Washington State Ferries announces plan to reduce emissions, protect whales
Washington State Ferries is working to go even greener.
That's the message in WSF's new two-year Sustainability Action Plan, which they released Monday in honor of Earth Day. The plan outlines goals and actions the organization plans to satisfy the state's Department of Transportation's commitment to sustainability, as well as the goals set out in Gov. Jay Inslee's Executive Orders 18-01 and -02, regarding environmental and orca protections.
That includes six areas of focus, including greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water, waste, and community impacts and engagement.
Specifically, the plan outlines a goal to reduce ambient ferry noise throughout the system, remove dangerous creosote-coated timber from Puget Sound, and further develop an electric hybrid ferry program. The department also plans to further implement "operational efficiencies to reduce fuel consumption."
The plan focuses on gathering data and establishing a baseline in the first two years, and using that data to drive the progress in the years to come.
"Because we operate our 23 ferries on Puget Sound and manage 20 terminals on its shores, we have an obligation to ensure WSF is doing everything we can to protect our environment," WSF assistant secretary Amy Scarton said in a release. "This plan lays out our commitment to tackle these issues and continue our efforts to make Washington's ferry system the greenest in the world."
WSF also plan to do more to protect orca whales, which they've already taken a number of steps to help the local orca population: slowing down ferries on some routes to help prevent noise pollution, halting work on terminal construction if marine mammals are in the area, and changing course or reducing speed to avoid whales swimming near ferries.
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