http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060223-9999-7m23port.html
S.D. port will investigate dockside power for liners to cut down on
pollution
By Mike Lee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 23, 2006
As state and national pressures build to reduce diesel pollution at
sea ports, the Port of San Diego has started exploring ways to slash
emissions from cruise liners and other ships that call on the city.
The effort centers on providing dockside power so vessels can plug in
and turn off their diesel engines, a process called cold ironing. A
growing number of ports – including those in Seattle and Juneau –
offer the service to cut down on smog-forming contaminants.
No one tracks how much air pollution the Port of San Diego creates,
but it's widely agreed that having massive diesel engines idling for
hours at the pier isn't good for air quality. San Diego notched 217
cruise-ship calls last year, more than double the count in 2000.
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