CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory Highlights Port Decarbonization, Sustainable Aviation During Visit to Port of Seattle

Today, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Brenda Mallory joined officials from Washington State on a walking tour of the Port of Seattle and held a media availability where she highlighted key investments that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal includes to advance decarbonization including the electrification of ports and sustainable aviation. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest historic funding to reduce congestion and emissions near ports, drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies at ports, and for construction, operations, and maintenance to keep ports running efficiently.

“Building back better means making America’s ports the climate-smart, clean, and efficient hubs for commerce that will be the envy of the world,” said Chair Mallory. “By advancing the electrification of America’s ports, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will create well-paying union jobs, cut energy costs, and – importantly – improve air quality in communities like those surrounding the Port of Seattle.”

“Climate change is the existential issue of our time. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will make significant advancements towards a greener economy, more competitive ports, and reducing carbon emissions, but to fulfill President Biden’s agenda we must also go big on climate in the Build Back Better Act,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1). “I will continue to work with the White House and congressional leaders to get these critical pieces of legislation over the finish line so they can deliver for our communities.”

“The Port of Seattle enthusiastically embraces the opportunity to partner with the Biden Administration to invest in critical infrastructure that advances commerce, communities, and climate action,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Fred Felleman. “The Port is also committed to minimizing our impacts to near-port communities while helping to increase their access to parks and economic opportunities.”

Chair Mallory also highlighted the President’s whole-of-government effort to advance cleaner aviation and transition to a zero-emissions vehicle fleet. Updating port, airport, and freight infrastructure to use sustainable fuels will drive electrification technologies, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and reduce climate impacts for vulnerable communities.

In September, President Biden proposed new actions to increase the use of cleaner and more sustainable fuels in American aviation. These steps will help make progress toward our climate goals for 2030 and are essential to unlocking the potential for a fully zero-carbon aviation sector by 2050. Together with President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda, these new agency steps and industry partnerships will transform the aviation sector, create good-paying jobs, support American agriculture and manufacturing, and help us tackle the climate crisis.

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