Ballard Oil Company in Seattle closing after 86 years

SEATTLE — The Ballard Oil Company closed after serving Seattle since 1937.

Owned by the Millard family, this local oil company has fueled the city for four generations. But with fewer oil-dependent people and increased taxes and regulations, they will have to close.

Brandon Millard, president of the company, which is located north of the Lake Washington Ship Channel, east of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, said: “There have been countless reasons over the past few years. “It all just fell apart within the last year.”

Millard said there has been a drop in fuel sales for home heating oils as more residents switch to heat pumps and electric heating.

Millard said changes in the fishing industry have also impacted them.

“We can see in the fishing industry over the last two years that crab miners can’t go north and do the things they normally do. That directly affects their sales. me,” he explained. “These companies realized they could load a quota on one boat and burn half of the consumables. We switched from filling a few of their boats to just one or two of their boats.”

Taxes and regulations also play a huge role in the decision to close. Millard cited a 24-cent a-gallon indoor heating tax that was supposed to go into effect January 1 before the city of Seattle repeals the tax and the statewide cap and investment cap, which sets emissions limits. greenhouse gases and require businesses to subsidize purchases that are equivalent to their emissions.

“That just adds to the price of fuel,” Miller said.

“Ballard Oil wasn’t founded for the purpose of making money,” Millard said. “It was founded with the purpose of serving the community and the fishing industry.”

When asked about the future of the maritime industry, Millard said he fears that Seattle won’t have one in five to 10 years.

“Look at all the shipyards that are gone,” says Millard. “There are only three shipyards on the canal. We’re seeing writing on the wall. We don’t see an industry here for us.”

Of the company’s eight employees, many are looking for work elsewhere. An employee is about to retire.

“There are a few companies that still make home heating oils,” says Millard. “It’s been a relentless fight to keep this industry alive and it shouldn’t be.”