Project Macoma meets stringent environmental standards and builds on successful Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-Sequim demonstration
Ebb Carbon today announced that Project Macoma has begun operations at the Port of Port Angeles. The temporary pilot builds on two years of demonstrations at PNNL-Sequim and shows how ocean-based carbon removal can help address local ocean acidification while removing excess CO₂ from the atmosphere.
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Ebb Carbon's marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) facility, Project Macoma, in Port Angeles, Washington.
“Ebb’s marine carbon dioxide removal approach is one of the most promising pathways for tackling climate change and acidification, but its success depends on proving we can grow it safely and in ways that are responsive to local communities and ecosystems. We're grateful for the support in Port Angeles, especially from local Tribes, community members, and local, state and federal regulators who have provided input that has shaped this project from the beginning. With Project Macoma, we’re proud to be creating a blueprint for how safe and responsible carbon removal can advance global climate goals while protecting local marine health,” said Ben Tarbell, CEO, Ebb Carbon.
Ocean Acidification in Washington’s Waters
Ocean acidification — caused by rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere — is impacting Washington state especially hard. Nearly 30% of species in Puget Sound are vulnerable to its effects, with impacts that are particularly acute in the Salish Sea near Port Angeles, one of North America’s most biologically rich marine ecosystems.
Increasing acidity makes it difficult for oysters, clams, plankton, and other organisms to build and maintain their shells. This threatens not only marine food webs, but also Washington’s shellfish industry — the largest in the United States. The state’s oyster, clam, and mussel farms generate more than $270 million annually and support over 3,200 jobs, making ocean acidification a direct risk to both ecological and economic health.
Solving two climate-related problems with one technology
Ebb’s technology is designed to address both ocean acidification and its root cause — excess carbon dioxide in the air. The process works by carefully removing acid from seawater and returning a more alkaline stream back to the ocean.
This process mimics the natural process that has regulated the planet’s chemistry for millions of years. By increasing alkalinity, the ocean can convert dissolved CO₂ in seawater into a stable form of carbon, enabling the ocean to safely absorb additional CO₂ from the atmosphere. In doing so, Ebb’s approach both reduces harmful acidification in local waters and removes climate-warming carbon pollution from the air — delivering benefits for marine life, coastal ecosystems, and communities alike.
Building on Successful Local Partnership and Testing
Project Macoma builds on Ebb's deployment of its technology in nearby Sequim Bay, where the company has partnered with the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) since August 2023. Results from field trials in Sequim Bay were recently published in a peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Environmental Engineering. The research documents two controlled releases of alkaline-enhanced seawater into Sequim Bay — providing real-world validation that Ebb’s system can operate safely and within existing regulatory frameworks.
Growing Momentum for Carbon Removal in Washington
Washington State is emerging as a leader in advancing carbon removal. The draft Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) — the state’s roadmap to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 — makes clear that durable CO₂ removal, including ocean-based methods, will be essential to closing the state’s emissions gap.
Project Macoma shows how this vision is already becoming reality. The pilot received a first-of-its-kind NPDES permit to return alkaline seawater to the ocean — setting a precedent for how innovative carbon removal projects can advance within existing regulatory frameworks. The project’s inclusion in the draft CCAP underscores Washington’s leadership in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and signals growing support for scaling solutions that cut emissions, build carbon sinks, and protect local ecosystems.
About Ebb Carbon
Ebb’s mission is to remove billions of tonnes of excess CO₂ from the air while addressing coastal acidification. The company has been operating in Washington state for two years, with demonstrations in partnership with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim and now a pilot project in Port Angeles.
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Contacts
Scott Coriell
scott@peakpublicaffairs.com