what's up, dock?
from Grist:
As San Francisco completes a new cruise-ship terminal, it plans also to
build a facility to provide electric power to docked ships. Shoreside
power -- in effect, extension cords that plug idling ships into hydro-
and solar-generated electricity -- could reduce harmful emissions from
the ships by up to 80 percent, said San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission spokesperson Tony Winnicker. The Port of San Francisco
estimates that in 2004, 90 tons of diesel soot and nitrogen oxide were
emitted by docked cruise ships. Juneau and Seattle have already
implemented shoreside power. Carnival, the world's largest cruise line,
is updating a number of its ships to be able to plug in. Carnival's Tom
Dow said San Francisco's plan "will be a win for the environment, Bay
Area residents, the cruise ship industry, and our customers."
sources:
San Francisco Chronicle
Reuters
