Outlook
[EXTERNAL] Green Methanol Viability
From Iris Antman <antwomaniris@gmail.com>
Date Tue 2/11/2025 8:19 AM
To Commission-Public-Records <commission-public-records@portseattle.org>
WARNING: External email. Links or aachments may be unsafe.
Dear Port Commissioners and ED Metruck,
I appreciate that the Port is hoping to decrease carbon intensive fuels in the Green Cruise Corridor by
exploring green methanol as to possible fuel. But green methanol comes with complications. First, there
is the cost: renewable methanol production costs are still significantly higher than those of today’s
natural gas and coal based methanol. Green methanol will not beat fossil fuels on price until 2040. So
will cruise companies use the more expensive fuel? Questionable.
Second, and critically, is the safety issue. Methanol is toxic, flammable and can be explosive; therefore,
it must be stored and handled carefully. Due to its density and lower heating value, methanol fuel tanks
are about 2.5 times larger than oil tanks for the same energy content. How will this affect the industry’s
bottom line?
Mega cruise ships will never be ‘green’ for so many reasons. It’s time to reduce and phase out cruising
to Alaska as an economic driver that makes sense. Cost out the potential harms: health of people and
marine animals, contamination to water and air, poor worker standards, flouting of environmental laws
through flags of convenience, worsening global heating - with the benefits. The Port has yet to do this.
Thank you,
Iris Antman
Seattle Cruise Control
2/11/25, 8:53 AM
Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
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Outlook
[EXTERNAL] February 11 PoS meeting - agenda item 11a Green Cruise Corridor
From Peggy J.Printz <peggyjprintz@gmail.com>
Date Mon 2/10/2025 7:15 AM
To Commission-Public-Records <commission-public-records@portseattle.org>
WARNING: External email. Links or aachments may be unsafe.
Hello Commissioners and staff,
You are planning to power so-called “Green” corridor cruise ships with green methanol - not a climate-
wise solution. This substance is produced from fossil fuels so it’s not truly a zero carbon product.
In other ways too, this potential fuel has major problems.
Green methanol production still costs significantly more than producing natural gas- and coal-based
methanol and will continue to for at least another decade.
Methanol is toxic, flammable and can be explosive; it must therefore be stored and handled carefully.
Furthermore, “due to its density and lower heating value, methanol fuel tanks are about 2 1/2 times
larger than oil tanks with the same content." - World Economic Forum, 2023.
The only viable way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Salish Sea is to curtail cruise traffic.
Sincerely,
Peggy J. Printz
Seattle
2/10/25, 10:46 AM
Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
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