The goal of the Collaborative is to leverage federal funds to strategically reduce emissions from the most polluting diesel sources in impacted communities. The Collaborative seeks to improve air quality and public health by targeting the highest polluting engines with the most cost-effective control strategies. DERA 2021: Northwest Seaport Alliance - Husky Terminal Shore Power Expansion Under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Northwest Seaport Alliance a $1,000,000 grant with Fiscal Year 2021 funding. This grant will fund the expansion of a shore power system at Husky Terminal supporting reduced emissions and improved air quality in Tacoma, Washington. The project will be implemented with a cost share of $3,000,000 and $157,312 in additional leveraged funds for a total project cost of $4,157,402. What is the Project? The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) will expand a container ship shore power project at Husky Terminal in Tacoma, WA that will increase the electrical capacity of the planned system and add a third connection point at each berth. The expansion will ensure that the shore power system has maximum flexibility and efficacy. These improvements will also allow the system to accommodate a broader range of vessel energy loads and increase the number of vessel configurations that allow shore power connections. This is expected to significantly increase utilization of the shore power system, delivering additional emission reductions and associated clean air, climate, public health, and environmental justice benefits. Why is this Project Important? In EPAs 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment, Pierce County, Washington was identified as an area where all or part of the population is exposed to diesel particulate matter concentrations above the 80th percentile and is on the EPA 2021 National Priority Area list. In the Tacoma/Seattle area, diesel exhaust presents the greatest public health risk of all toxic air pollutants. The neighborhoods surrounding Husky Terminal are disproportionately impacted by air pollution due to their proximity to the port industrial complex and the I-5 corridor. In the Hilltop and East side neighborhood census tracts closest to the port, the percentage of the population below the poverty line is also more than double the Pierce County and state-wide totals. This project would reduce the diesel pollution load on all communities near the port industrial complex, maximizing health benefits and addressing environmental justice concerns. What are the Estimated Environmental Benefits? The expansion of the shore power system is projected to reduce the annual diesel emissions by 52.8 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 0.88 tons of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), 0.78 tons of sulfur oxides (SOx), and 2,632 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as reduce annual marine fuel consumption by 2,017 metric tons. This will result in estimated cumulative emission reductions of 1,584 tons NOx, 26.4 tons PIVk.s, 23.4 tons SOx, and 78,960 tons CO2. How is this Project Funded? The West Coast Collaborative is a partnership between leaders from federal, tribal, state, and local government, the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions along the West Coast and is part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign: www.epa.qov/cleandiesel Where can I find more information? For more information on the West Coast Collaborative, please visit our website at: www.westcoastcollaborative.org. For more information about this project, please contact Sarah Frederick at Frederick.Sarah@epa.gov ------- |