As we celebrate Earth Day 2025, I reaffirm my deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, working alongside dedicated Port staff, Commission colleagues, community partners, and all those who show up, speak out, and testify at public meetings to help drive bold investments and long-term solutions for a thriving future.
In 2024, we achieved several important environmental milestones. At SEA Airport, we became the first U.S. airport to roll out innovative cleaning technology that completely removed harmful PFAS chemicals from our firefighting equipment, successfully removing 3,795 gallons of this hazardous substance. Additionally, we have significantly reduced our waste footprint by mandating that dining and retail tenants transition to compostable and reusable serviceware, resulting in the composting of 1,587 tons of waste — a 14% increase from 2023 — and the donation of over 26,000 meals to local foodbanks.
In maritime operations, we've set national benchmarks by installing shore power at Pier 66 and becoming the first port nationwide to require shore power use for cruise ships by 2027. This initiative alone has already avoided nearly 4,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, we completed significant marine debris removal, eliminating over 40 tons of debris from subtidal areas adjacent to Terminals 18 and 46, and removed or resolved 10 derelict vessels.
Our commitment to reducing greenhouse gases continues. We secured $3 million in grant funding to support maritime decarbonization and continue pioneering research into sustainable maritime fuels like green methanol. At SEA Airport, we've also made substantial progress in emissions reductions, with 61% of aircraft operations connecting to preconditioned air, substantially decreasing reliance on auxiliary power units and reducing APU emissions by 15% compared to the previous year.
On land, our Healthy Lands and Habitat initiatives saw the restoration of 14 acres along the Duwamish River, planting over 2,400 trees and shrubs, and significant investments in fish and marine habitat research, including the installation of fish monitoring technology at the Duwamish River People's Park and Shoreline Habitat. Our innovative soil remediation at Terminal 25 South also marked notable progress, successfully treating soil contaminated with PCBs.
Equity and environmental justice are central to our sustainability efforts. We've invested over $226,000 into community-led sustainability projects, supported the Duwamish Green Jobs Program, and actively engaged our community through more than 75 habitat tours and environmental volunteer events.
Looking ahead, our mission remains clear: to lead by example in sustainability. Exciting future projects include the Carnival Cruise BioFuel Pilot, further sustainable maritime fuel initiatives through our Sustainable Maritime Fuels Collaborative, and continued robust waterfront clean energy strategies. Additionally, we'll be conducting in-depth community engagement through our Part 150 Noise Study and expanding our Sound Insulation Repair and Replacement Pilot Program to enhance quality of life for those impacted by airport noise.
This Earth Day, I invite you to celebrate our collective progress and renew our commitment to protecting the planet we all share. At the Port of Seattle, we're proud of the strides we have made, and we are prepared for the additional, critical work that still lies in front of us.
Duwamish Alive
This Earth Day weekend, I was honored to participate in the Duwamish Alive! 2025 Spring Restoration Event at həʔapus Village Shoreline Habitat Restoration. This inspiring community gathering brought together volunteers from across the region, including local youth, green job trainees, and dedicated environmental stewards committed to restoring the health of our precious Duwamish Watershed. Together, we removed debris, improved salmon habitat, and cared for our upland forests, directly benefiting not only our iconic salmon and orcas but also other wildlife and the surrounding communities.
It was particularly moving to witness the award of the Green-Duwamish Champion Award to Katherine Lynch, a dedicated fish biologist with Seattle Public Utilities whose tireless efforts reflect our shared goal of restoring ecological vitality. Collaborating alongside Commissioner Fred Felleman, Duwamish Tribal Chairwoman Cecile Hansen, and numerous local environmental leaders reaffirmed my belief that protecting the environment is fundamentally a community endeavor. Events like these make me deeply proud to stand with residents and partners in safeguarding the future of our environment and community.
— Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed
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