Haines will join a group effort to explore the possibility of a maritime “green corridor” – a very early-stage emissions-reducing project – connecting Alaska, British Columbia and Washington state.
The Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously at its July 12 meeting to sign the “first mover commitment,” in which it agreed to work with other partners to “define the scope and application of the green corridor concept.”
The commitment may be left at any time. Other first movers include the boroughs of Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, the ports of Seattle and Vancouver and several major cruise ship companies.
The U.S., Canada and 22 other countries signed a pledge in November — called the Clydebank Declaration —to create six green shipping corridors by 2025. What a green corridor might actually look like is unclear.
“It’s really early days,” said Port of Seattle spokesperson Kathy Roeder, “but it’s incredible to see the level of support.” The Port of Seattle, which will serve as the project convenor, announced the initiative in May. “In my experience, I’ve never seen this level of coordination between Washington, B.C. and Alaska,” Roeder said.
For now, Roeder said the members will have monthly virtual meetings to determine a governance structure and to plan feasibility studies.
Sue Libenson, who made a presentation about the corridor at the assembly’s May 24 meeting, congratulated the borough for signing on. Libenson spent several years working on maritime law at the International Maritime Organization, the agency in charge of international shipping regulations.
“There will be all these opportunities associated with (the corridor),” she said. “We don’t want to miss out on the future of shipping.”
Assembly members and borough staff expressed similar enthusiasm for the project at this stage, stressing that signing the first movers agreement is non binding. “We do not have to give them any money and we can back out any time we want, but this just gives us a seat at the table,” said Haines Borough Mayor Douglas Olerud.
Assembly member Cheryl Stickler also expressed her support. “If we believe in responsible resource development, and tourism is a part of that, it is also upon us to exhibit good stewardship,” she said. “I think being a part of this conversation is going to give us the information to move in that direction.”
The green corridor is just one of several efforts in the works to lower carbon emissions from maritime transportation. A first-of-its-kind hybrid cruise ship — built by Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten Expeditions – docked in Haines for the first time in May. Skagway is developing an electric ferry, Alaska Public Media reported in December. And Norway plans soon to allow only emissions-free vessels into its UNESCO World Heritage-listed fjords.
Adrian Revenaugh has lived in Haines for 35 years but only attended one assembly meeting before testifying at the July 12 meeting to express her approval of the corridor.
“All of Asia is looking towards how to make this happen, too,” Revenaugh said. “It’s a pretty exciting thing to be considered to be a part of (it).”