The Port of Oakland moved closer to clean shore power with approval last month from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) of $5 million from the Mobile Source Incentive Fund for the Port of Oakland’s shore power project.
Shore power is a key element of the State’s Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program, the Port of Oakland’s Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan adopted in 2009, and one of the principal methods of compliance with the California Air Resources Board regulation for “vessels at berth.” The $5 million will contribute to the construction of shore power infrastructure at the first three berths in the port’s shore power project.
“In March 2008, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners set the goal of reducing the health risk from seaport sources of diesel emissions by 85 percent by 2020,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar R. Benjamin. “We want to thank the Air District for helping us get closer to reaching that goal with this funding.” Benjamin added, “Shore power is critical to both cleaning up the air and maintaining revenues at the port so we can continue delivering economic benefits to the region and State.”
In December 2007, the California Air Resources Board approved a regulation to reduce emissions from diesel auxiliary engines on container, passenger and refrigerated-cargo ships while berthing at California ports. Fifty percent of a fleet’s visits to a port must be shore power visits by 2014. Eighty percent of a fleet’s visits must be shore power visits by 2020. Fleet operators visiting California ports will be required to turn off auxiliary engines and connect to clean shore power (most likely an electrical grid) or use alternative control technique(s) that achieve equivalent emission reductions.
According to the Air District, installation of shoreside power at three berths at the Port of Oakland will eliminate an estimated 33 tons of pollutants and particulate matter annually.
The port and its tenants will need significant funds to help finance shore power infrastructure and ensure delivery of this important initiative. Historically the port’s principal funding sources for maritime environmental improvement activities have been operational revenues and bond funding secured by such revenues. Because these revenue sources are insufficient to meet the needs of the new shore power project, the port is pursuing and leveraging new funding and financing mechanisms, including grant funding such as the MSIF. So far approximately $40 million has been identified in grant funding, of which approximately $13 million has been secured by the port, including the $5 million just approved.
“We estimate that it will cost $90 million for planning and building the land-side infrastructure needed to supply shore power at the Port of Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Senior Maritime Projects Administrator Delphine Prévost. “Additionally, the maritime industry is reportedly investing approximately $1 billion in private funds to retrofit their vessels docking at California ports.”
