# The Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act

This bill creates a new voluntary program that encourages large ships traveling along the U.S. West Coast to slow down. The goal is to tackle three problems at once: reduce air pollution from ship engines, protect whales from deadly collisions, and decrease the underwater noise that harms marine life. The program is modeled after an existing speed reduction initiative that's already working in California waters off Santa Barbara, Ventura, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here's how it works in practice. Shipping companies with large cargo vessels (300 tons or bigger) can voluntarily participate by keeping their ships at 10 knots or slower—roughly 11 miles per hour—when traveling through designated coastal areas. There's no penalty for not participating, and the government isn't offering money to companies that do participate. Instead, companies that successfully maintain these lower speeds for a full year get recognized with an official "Blue Whales and Blue Skies Excellence Award." They can then display a special logo on their marketing materials to show customers they're committed to environmental responsibility. This recognition is meant to appeal to companies that want to demonstrate their environmental commitment and potentially attract customers who care about these issues.

The practical benefits are significant. Slower-moving ships burn less fuel, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The reduced speed dramatically lowers the risk of fatal collisions with endangered blue whales and other marine species that live near shipping lanes. The slower movement also creates less underwater noise, which whales and other ocean animals depend on for communication and navigation. Within four years, the government must study whether this program could expand to cover the entire U.S. Pacific coast from Canada to Mexico. Since participation is completely voluntary and no taxpayer money goes toward incentives, the main impact falls on shipping companies deciding whether the environmental benefits and public relations value are worth the slightly longer travel times.