###

At tonight’s meeting of the (deep breath) Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District’s Board of Commissioners (exhale), members of that body will consider adopting a resolution that would commit the district to adopting an environmentally friendly “Green Terminal Strategy” in its planned development of a new heavy lift marine terminal to support the offshore wind industry.

Local environmental advocates have been pressuring the Harbor District to make such a commitment, which would involve using zero-carbon energy sources whenever possible for the ships and heavy machinery operating in and around the port facility.

Electrified shore power stations can reduce pollution from idling ships by 95 percent, according to the Port of Long Beach, and Crowley Wind Services, the multinational maritime company working with the Harbor District to develop the facility, is developing the country’s first fully electric tugboat. 

“When the wind turbines are constructed and start generating electricity, the green port could become doubly effective by storing energy during peak production,” a coalition of local environmental group leaders wrote in a recent opinion piece. “By relying heavily on these evolving technologies, Humboldt Bay could be uniquely positioned to become a trailblazer and a worldwide leader in green port development.”

There’s not a lot of information on the agenda for tonight’s meeting, but staff is recommending that the board sign the resolution, which would commit the district to developing and adopting the Green Terminal Strategy by March of 2025.

The meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. at the district’s headquarters on Woodley Island, 601 Startare Drive. Members of the public can attend in person or participate via Zoom by clicking this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6917934402.

###

DOCUMENT: Agenda for the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners