The road to Artist Point, the final 2.7 miles of State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway, is closed for the season.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 3, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Hogan
mikeh@portofbellingham.com
360-676-2500

Port of Bellingham Awarded a $2.8 Million Grant for Electrification of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal

Grant to support sustainable maritime operations

The Port of Bellingham has been awarded a $2.8 million grant for electrification of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. This grant will reduce carbon emissions, support key climate goals in the Port’s Climate Action Strategy, and help position the Shipping Terminal as a long-term job-creator for Whatcom County and the cornerstone of a vibrant working waterfront.

The Port of Bellingham is one of 11 Washington ports to be awarded a portion of the State’s $26.5 Port Electrification Grant program. Port staff will bring the grant agreement to the Port Commission for consideration and approval.

Shore power will allow ships docked at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to plug in to the electrical grid rather than relying on diesel engines for power. Ships can then turn off onboard generators which significantly reduces noise levels and carbon and diesel particulate matter emissions.

Electrification will help the Bellingham Shipping Terminal serve as a clean energy home base for sustainable shipping companies and escort tugs serving local barges and vessels, including those on the M-5 Coastal Connector Barge Project, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) - designated American Marine Highway short sea shipping green corridor to Coos Bay, Oregon and San Diego, California.

The Bellingham Shipping Terminal electrification project is expected to be complete by 2026.

The Port of Bellingham is a member of Green Marine, the leading environmental certification program for North America’s maritime industry. This project will help port operations meet the continuous improvement requirements for performance indicators with this standard. 

There is a growing trend within the shipping industry towards large battery and hybrid-powered vessels which is being driven by environmental, regulatory, and economic factors. In Puget Sound, the lack of charging infrastructure is a significant barrier towards the widespread adoption of quieter, environmentally-friendly vessels.

Electrification of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal complements several major modernization projects already underway. The Port is strengthening the main dock for heavier cargo and equipment, increasing the navigation depth to allow a much wider range of cargo, and installing a state-of-the-art stormwater management system to protect water quality. In addition, the Port recently secured a $17.9 Million federal grant to reconnect rail to the Shipping Terminal and enable the efficient transportation of marine cargo on over 32,500 miles of track in 28 states and 3 Canadian provinces. 

The Bellingham Shipping Terminal is one of only 11 deep-water ports in Washington. In 2022, Washington ports handled the import and export of 55.5 Billion tons of non-containerized cargo such as automobiles, windmills and grain worth $36.5 Billion. In Whatcom County, over 6000 jobs are created or supported by marine trades representing 7% of the total workforce. 

        We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253 - Check Hours
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: 360-671-3990
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