Port of Seattle, Chinese city forge "eco-partnership"

The Port of Seattle is teaming up with a port in China to develop a global model for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

The "eco-partnership" announced Monday between Seattle and Dalian, in northeast China, calls for two of the world's largest and busiest seaports to collaborate on projects to help both countries.

The program focuses on exchanging information on port practices, including the use of clean energy to power terminal equipment, infrastructure and logistics, and emergency response to oil spills in the harbor.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who made the announcement on the 30th anniversary of the two countries establishing diplomatic relations, said the cooperative approach is the best way to make progress with China on environmental issues.

The partnership could be the first step of an international effort to save energy and reduce pollution through clean technology, she said.

Together the U.S. and China account for about 40 percent of the world's carbon-dioxide emissions. Two-way trade was worth about $300 billion last year.

China is Washington state's largest trading partner, and Washington is the second-largest export destination for Chinese goods after California.

Becoming greener will give the Port a competitive advantage, said Charlie Sheldon, managing director of the seaport division.

Sheldon said he hopes to "get to the point where if you want to come through the Northwest gateway, you're going to come through the cleanest, most sustainable gateway anywhere, and that could be a good model for the future."

The Seattle-Dalian partnership grew out of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the cabinet-level meetings between the U.S. and China.

The two governments signed a "Framework for Ten Year Cooperation on Energy and Environment" in June and met this month for the fifth time, establishing the eco-partnerships.

The partnerships are intended as a kind of "sub-national" layer of relations, bringing in local governments, businesses, universities and nonprofits, "where ideas can be tested in targeted areas before broad introduction," according to the agreement.

Besides Seattle, other examples include a partnership between Ford Motor in Denver and Chang'an Motors in Chongqing to implement electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Cantwell and others cited examples of technology that could help the ports, including frictionless electronic motors, jet fuel made from algae and "plug-in vessels."

Being a leader in environmental sustainability can "add to the attractiveness of our brand," said Jon Hemingway, chief executive of Seattle-based SSA Marine, a major marine-terminal operator and Port of Seattle tenant that joined the partnership.

It also helps motivate workers. "Our employees are thrilled to be part of this," Hemingway said.

The partnership is voluntary and does not include commitments for reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. "You would love to get there," Cantwell said, but part of the issue is getting cooperation on both sides.

President-elect Obama has said his administration could work to push through a new international climate treaty only if China and others join the U.S. in large-scale emissions cuts.

China has surpassed the U.S. as the No. 1 greenhouse-gas producer, but the U.S. still emits five times more than China per capita.

"If China has a lot of examples of how we're working together, they'll see the benefit," Cantwell said. "They have serious problems and they want meaningful solutions."

The partnership might also help convince Cantwell's "reluctant colleagues" in Congress that "there is actually an economic benefit to this, and show them China's a market for green-technology solutions," she said.

Half of the world's new buildings in the next 10 years will be built in China, so even 10 percent energy savings could go a long way financially and environmentally, she added.

As a northern coastal city, Dalian is geographically similar to Seattle, said Zhu Weimin, deputy consul general at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.

Zhu said he has not had a chance to talk with any Chinese companies about the program but added, "I think this will be a good example for all the partners."

"You are the most industrialized country. If you have research advancements, it's good for us — we needn't start from the very beginning," Zhu said. "We are a developing country. We don't have the budget to do it ourselves. We can share the achievements. The world can benefit."

Kristi Heim: 206-464-2718 or kheim@seattletimes.com