Anacortes refinery shines at ENERGY STAR Industrial Showcase

Business News

Anacortes, Washington, sustainability, environment
Marathon’s Anacortes, Washington, refinery
Marathon’s Anacortes, Washington, refinery

Key Points

  • Marathon’s Anacortes refinery hosted an ENERGY STAR® Industrial Showcase to celebrate its achievements in energy management and sustainability.
  • The event featured guest speakers, including local officials, and showcased initiatives like NOx emissions reduction, real-time operational data software, and LED lighting installations.
  • Employees highlighted the refinery's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts at educational booths set up for the event.

Three people talk near a table with informational posters displayed.
Anacortes refinery Area Team Engineer Sydney Juliussen and Project Engineer Marie Coughlin talk with Cameron Hunt about the Wet Gas Compressor booth during the event. 

Marathon’s Anacortes, Washington, refinery hosted an ENERGY STAR® Industrial Showcase in September in recognition of its achievements in energy management practices.

“Our teams at Anacortes have worked especially hard in recent years to extend the site’s success in lowering energy consumption, emissions and water use,” said Cameron Hunt, Vice President of Refining, Anacortes refinery. “Their efforts have helped earn six consecutive ENERGY STAR® certifications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for energy efficiency performance in the top 25% of our nationwide peer group.”

The Anacortes refinery team hosted the Industrial Showcase on the refinery grounds to celebrate its progress and promote MPC’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

A woman points to a tv screen on a table in conversation with another woman.
Process Engineer Lauryn Humphreys explains how digital innovation at the refinery is driving decarbonization efforts.

"In a place like Anacortes, surrounded by incredible natural beauty, it matters that industry is focusing on sustainability and stepping forward with innovation and responsibility. " - Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller

Three men pose in front of a stage.
(L to R) Marathon’s Refining Environmental Senior Director Tim Peterkoski, Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller and Cameron Hunt meet at the event.

Event participants from throughout the region included regulatory agencies’ staff, elected officials, area Tribal members, local utility board members and other key stakeholders. Also in attendance were representatives of MPC’s Refining organization and private companies that make products that help Anacortes achieve our sustainability goals. Guest speakers included Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller and Skagit County Commissioner Peter Browning.

“Thank you for being such a positive part of our Skagit County community,” said Browning in his address to attendees. “Marathon has a huge impact on our community through support of our schools, local government and nonprofit organizations.”

A woman at a podium holds up a framed certificate
 MPC’s Advanced Senior Refining Engineer Karen Green holds up the ENERGY STAR certificate for the refinery’s most recent certification. 
a group of people stand together with tables and chairs in the foreground.
Marathon employees put together a showcase that included guest speakers, booths and a tour of the refinery.

Employees conducted refinery tours and staffed exhibit booths to explain initiatives that are helping advance sustainability at the Anacortes refinery. Some of the initiatives included:

  • Reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) – The site used selective non-catalytic reduction technology that targeted a carbon monoxide boiler to lower NOx emissions by 31% or 321 tons per year.
  • Energy management software – The application provides real-time operational data to identify the most efficient ways of managing process equipment. To date, the estimated cost savings for 2025 are on a path to exceed $1 million.
  • LED lighting – The refinery’s ongoing installation of LED lights has reduced electricity usage in line with the utility’s incentive program.
Two tour buses drive in front of the Anacortes refinery.
Tour buses took visitors around the refinery to learn more about the facility and how it operates. 

“This event highlighted that we have created a culture of sustainability and gave us a chance to demonstrate this to our community leaders,” said Melissa McPherson, Marathon Refining Engineer and event organizer. “Our employees were able to engage with guests and answer questions and educate them about how we are making a difference.”

Three men stand together outside with an ENERGY STAR displayed behind them.
(L to R) Retired plant managers Dan Cameron and James Tangaro attended the event to support Cameron Hunt and the continued success at the Anacortes refinery.