Port Houston outlines plan to become net-zero

Port Houston has laid out its new plan to achieve a net-zero GHG footprint by 2050.

In its roadmap to carbon neutrality, the port cites the need to upgrade technology, improve infrastructure and equipment, and utilise alternative fuels and clean energy sources.

According to Houston, collaboration with industry, community, federal, state, and local agencies will be vital for addressing air quality levels.

“Our goal is ambitious, but we must be practical in how we achieve it. The choices we make will be good for the environment and also good for the economy and the millions of people who rely on the Houston Ship Channel and Port Houston for their jobs,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said.

“As with most ambitious goals, we cannot do it alone. Collaboration and partnership will be keys to our success.”

On top of an additional 72 ongoing initiatives, Port Houston has also recently launched a Sustainability Action Plan which includes 27 opportunities to lead, partner, or support sustainability initiatives.

Over the next three years, the port is looking to install smart lighting at its facilities, improve gate efficiencies, improve navigation efficiencies, and create 800 acres of new wildlife habitat.

Additionally, it is also working on eventually eliminating dockside emissions, transitioning trucks to low or no emissions vehicles, and helping green shipping corridors as well as green marine and road fuels.

“We know that today’s work must be done sustainably for future generations. Port Houston facilities are just part of the overall equation, though,” continued Guenther.

“Reductions are needed throughout the supply chain, including ships, trucks, tenants, and other operators. Global decarbonisation in shipping is also needed to achieve a better tomorrow.”

Elena Craft, Senior Director for Climate and Health at the Environmental Health Fund (EDF), added: “EDF supports the port’s commitment to bring government, industry and community together to eliminate climate pollution and protect public health as urgently as we can.”

Back in October 2021, officials for the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority convened for the first time in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss the port’s operational results.

During the meeting, members of the port authority reviewed the draft report for the Goods Movement Emissions Inventory (GMEI).

The updated report found that emissions were lowered by between 15 per cent and 93 per cent for all evaluated pollutants across all public terminals in 2019 compared to 2013.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/port-houston-outlines-plan-to-become-net-zero/