Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A baseline Greenhouse Gas Inventory was completed for the calendar year 2019. The base year is what we are using to evaluate impacts going forward. We are measuring our GHG emissions so that we can determine the impact to climate change from the changes we make to our operations.   We have also completed inventories to compare against the baseline for calendar years 2022 and 2023, and a vessel emission inventory for 2023. 

One of the biggest impacts to our GHG emissions is our purchased energy (electricity and natural gas). The Port committed to PSE's Green Direct program for renewable energy purchases as of March 2021, which effectively reduced its GHG emissions from electricity purchased from PSE to zero. The Port purchases other electricity through the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which remains counted. 

See below for a detailed definition of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Note that inclusion of scope 3 emissions is optional, and the Port includes one scope 3 emission, employee commuting, in annual inventories.

 GHG Emission Scopes included in the Port of Bellingham GHG Emissions Inventories

Scope 1 sources:  Sources under the direct control and operation of the Port. These include natural gas burned in Port-controlled buildings, fuel burned in the Port-owned fleet, and fugitive emissions from refrigerants used in Port-controlled buildings and vehicles.

Scope 2 sources:  Indirect sources such as purchased electricity used in Port-controlled buildings and operations. 

Scope 3 sources:  Other indirect sources whose emissions are a consequence of the Port’s activity but are not directly controlled by the Port. The Port included employee commuting in its inventories and has calculated vessel emissions for 2023. 

Source: Figure 1 of Greenhouse Gas Protocol Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions,  Scope 3 Calculation Guidance | Greenhouse Gas Protocol (ghgprotocol.org)