The Port of Seattle, which oversees Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), is buying renewable natural gas (RNG) from U.S. Gain to heat the airport’s terminal and power its bus fleet. The deal is enabling the agency to meet its 2030 carbon emissions reduction target 10 years earlier than anticipated.
The goal was to cut scope 1 and scope 2 emissions (related to Port-controlled operations) to reach a 50% reduction by 2030. Port Seattle is aiming for a 100% reduction in emissions, or to be net zero, by 2050.
“Before entering into this agreement, we learned that fossil natural gas makes up about 80 percent of Port Seattle’s carbon footprint, and the majority of it was from the central utility plant boilers that heat the airport. So, we chose to substitute with RNG,” says Stephanie Meyn, Climate Program manager for SEA Airport.