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Washington is the only West Coast state without a low-carbon fuel standard to encourage the manufacture and use of less-polluting fuels.
The Washington state Senate approved a low-carbon fuel standard late Thursday night. A different version passed the Washington House of Representatives in February.
The two chambers must reconcile the bills’ differences before Gov. Jay Inslee can sign a fuel standard into law.
Local ports lack jurisdiction over cargo ships for the vast majority of the nearly 6,000-mile voyage across the Pacific.
The Northwest ports’ pollution strategy only covers ships’ emissions for the 140 to 170 miles after they have entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca along the Washington-British Columbia border.
“Efficiency improvements that reduce emissions in our airshed would also reduce emissions throughout the transit,” Port of Seattle spokesperson Peter McGraw said in an email.
Shipping is responsible for about 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization.
The global shipping agency has set a target of reducing the industry’s emissions 50% below 2008 levels by 2050.
About 90% of world trade is transported by ship.
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