Port of San Diego Receives Grant Funding for Shore Power

Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222

Alternative method for powering cruise ships in port will reduce air emissions
In February 2008, the Port of San Diego's Draft Clean Air Program was presented to the Board of Port Commissioners. The program identified four methods of reducing air emissions around the Port tidelands. These are: retrofitting or replacing older model trucks that do business at the Port, retrofitting or replacing cargo handling equipment used at the Port's marine terminals, requiring ships to plug into shore power while berthed and reducing the speed of vessels traveling to and from the Port.

The Port of San Diego is making headway with its program to replace and retrofit older model trucks and is now moving forward with plans to install shore power at the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal. At the October 7 Board of Port Commissioners meeting, the Board voted to accept grant funds from the Carl Moyer Grant Program which will help to finance the project. The Port was awarded $2.4 million from this grant by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District in August 2008. This is the second shore power project awarded under the Carl Moyer Program in the State of California. The Port of San Francisco had the first.

The estimated cost for this project is $6 million. This includes approximately $1.9 to power the terminal, $2.4 million for the electrical equipment and $1.7 million for public works infrastructure. The public works infrastructure includes adding a concrete support pad, vaults, fencing, cables and a conduit. These services will be provided via public works contracting. To comply with the Carl Moyer Grant Program regulations, the system must be operating by May 31, 2010, more than three years prior to state regulatory requirements. Once the project is operational, it is expected to remove 151 tons of air emissions.

Providing shore power for vessels supports the Port's Green Port Program, which unifies the Port's environmental sustainability goals in six key areas: water, energy, air, waste management, sustainable development, and sustainable business practices. As part of the Green Port Program, the Port establishes long-term goals and evaluates progress in each area annually. The Green Port Program will continue the Port's existing environmental efforts and expand these efforts through new programs and initiatives. For more information on the Green Port Program and other environmental initiatives at the Port, please visit the Environmental Services section.