May 31, 2011 > Shoreside power electrification project to begin operation Shoreside power electrification project to begin operation $4.8M grant reduces ship emissions at the Port of Oakland Submitted By Kristine Roselius The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area, and its partners, the California Air Resources board and container carrier APL announced, on May 27, 2011, the completion of a landmark cold ironing project to cut container ship emissions and improve West Oakland's air quality. "Cold-ironing" is an industry term that refers to turning off a ship's 2,000 horsepower diesel generators at berth and connecting instead to cleaner electric shore power. This enables vessels to maintain power in port while eliminating exhaust emissions. Shoreside power from this project will cut more than 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions, a leading component of smog, from ships berthed in Oakland and 1,500 pounds of toxic soot, annually. Such power is considered one of the most effective ways to curb emissions from vessels at port and improve coastal air quality. Regulations requiring cold-ironing in California take effect in 2014. For more information, visit, www.baaqmd.gov