Yesterday I was glad to participate in an awards ceremony that gave well-deserved recognition to a number of organizations that help the Port work toward accomplishing our aggressive environmental goals.
At the Port, our goal is to create jobs and support the region’s economic development goals, all while reducing our emissions and promoting green initiatives across our business lines. We want to be the greenest, and most energy-efficient port in North America. And we are making good progress to that goal.
The honorees that received our Environmental Excellence and Fly Quiet award exemplify environmental values that we strive for at the Port. Their innovation and creative problem-solving prove that being green is good for business — and we are thrilled to have them as our partners.
My training is as a marine biologist, and I first came to the northwest to research the southern resident killer whale. The protection of the marine environment on which they depend became my career and continues to serve as motivation for my public service. I am proud of the work being done at the port — in the last year alone, we’ve chartered our Energy and Sustainability Committee, that seeks to bring a conservation mindset to future projects; we’ve installed a solar array on Fishermen’s Terminal and adopted the most aggressive sustainable aviation fuel goals of any airport in the nation.
Yesterday, I was glad to present with Port Executive Director, Steve Metruck environmental excellence awards to Vigor, Castan Inc., Maxum Petroleum, Seaview Boatyard, United Airlines, HMSHost, and the Common Acre. And our Fly Quiet awards went to three airline partners: Southwest Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. These industry partners have helped the Port fulfill a mission we all share: to serve the needs of our state while sticking to our solid core environmental values.
In our close-knit pacific northwest community, the good work done by our friends and neighbors serves not just as an example of what’s possible, but as an inspiration for all of us to do more. We celebrate that good work, in hope that it can serve as a golden — and green — example to others.
Next year I look forward to working with industry partners to create an even higher profile of public recognition for the innovative work being done at our Seaport and airport. Congratulations again to all the winners.
