Government leaders, representatives of the
maritime industry, environmental groups, port tenants and others are scheduled
to gather May 6 to discuss the upcoming requirement that container and
passenger fleets calling at California’s six major ports plug in to shore power,
or landside electricity.
The requirement, which goes into effect Jan.
1, 2014, is that 50 percent of a fleet’s vessel calls plug in and decrease
emissions overall by 50 percent. Turning off their auxiliary engines is
expected to reduce emissions by about 95 percent.
The requirements increase to 70 percent of
vessel calls in 2017 and 80 percent in 2020. Certain berths that received
special state funding will have higher requirements. The California Air
Resources Board (CARB), the state agency that created the new rule, can
penalize fleets that fail to meet requirements.
The summit, hosted by the Long Beach Board of
Harbor Commissioners, will provide updates on outreach, construction and other
developments. Leading up to the new regulation, fleets and terminals have a
deadline of July 1, 2013 to submit their shore power plans to CARB.
The summit is scheduled for 10 am, May 6,
2013 at the Port of Long Beach Administration Building Boardroom, 925 Harbor
Drive, Long Beach. For those who can’t attend in person, the port will host a
live webcast at www.polb.com/shorepowersummit.
