Port of Camas-Washougal to explore ‘industrial symbiosis’Subscriber Exclusive

The Port of Camas-Washougal will spend the next year exploring ways to attract new industries, lower operating costs for businesses and reduce waste as part of a state-funded initiative promoting a concept known as industrial symbiosis.

The port is one of seven Washington communities selected to receive help through the Washington Department of Commerce’s Industrial Symbiosis Technical Assistance program, which helps communities identify opportunities for businesses to share energy, water, materials and other resources rather than treating them as waste.

“This project reflects the port’s commitment to innovative, responsible economic development,” port Executive Director Trang Lam said in a news release. “By exploring industrial symbiosis opportunities, we can help support cleaner growth, more efficient use of resources, and new opportunities for local businesses.”

The Port of Camas-Washougal is the first Clark County organization selected for the program, a statewide initiative modeled after the world’s best-known industrial symbiosis network in Kalundborg, Denmark. The effort is designed to help communities strengthen local manufacturing while conserving resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating new economic opportunities.

For the Port of Camas-Washougal, the effort will focus on the port’s industrial park, where consultants will analyze resource flows and work with businesses to identify opportunities for shared infrastructure, waste reduction, energy efficiency and stronger local supply chains. The project also will examine how the port can attract companies involved in clean technology, advanced manufacturing, resource recovery and sustainable materials management.

The port will work with the city of Washougal, the Columbia River Economic Development Council, Clark Public Utilities and the Washington State Microenterprise Association during the approximately 10-month project.

“We’re thrilled to be able to help more Washington communities to turn waste into wealth,” Rhys Roth, executive director for the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, said in the news release. “This is a golden opportunity to help local leaders apply industrial symbiosis principles to develop industrial hubs that make energy, water, and material resources more reliable, exchangeable, affordable, and sustainable.”

The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, a nonprofit organization administering the program for the Department of Commerce, will help the port identify a priority capital project that could advance to preliminary design, environmental review and future funding opportunities by June.

The Legislature created the Industrial Symbiosis Technical Assistance program to help communities analyze industrial waste streams and identify projects that promote economic development while reducing climate pollution. The initiative is funded through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.

The Port of Camas-Washougal joins the ports of Bellingham, Moses Lake and Pend Oreille, along with projects in Thurston County, Spokane and Wenatchee, in this latest round of technical assistance. The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure previously worked on similar projects in Vancouver, Longview, Port Angeles, Pasco, Spokane and Wenatchee.