Oakland, Calif. – April 4, 2011– At the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners meeting on March 29, 2011, the Board authorized the allocation of $2.7 million to the Port of Oakland’s Shore Power Program and to an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Study. The two approved initiatives embody one of the Port’s guiding principles, that environmental stewardship is a lens for all Port activities, and contributes to the Port’s mission to deliver the highest value to its customers and community.

“This action is delivering real emission reduction results that benefit the community and paves the way for an innovative approach to energy and the environment going forward," said Port of Oakland Commissioner and West Oakland community leader Margaret Gordon, who also co-chairs the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP). “I am pleased that the Port and West Oakland community worked collaboratively to get us here and look forward to more collaborative partnerships as these projects are implemented."

“West Oakland residents and many Port stakeholders have benefited from the emission reductions that have been achieved through the Port-community dialogue targeting sources such as trucks, buses, tugboats, cargo handling equipment, and now ships," said West Oakland Neighbors Co-Chair Ray Kidd. "We are pleased the Port has also embraced the community's suggestion of directing funding to an innovative and exciting energy research initiative in partnership with the community."

Shore Power Program
Shore power provides grid-based electric power from land to vessels, allowing those vessels to “plug-in” and shut off their diesel-fueled auxiliary engines while at berth. The Port will make terminal shore power infrastructure available at three berths by 2012, with additional berths by 2014. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, installation of shore power at just the first three berths at the Port of Oakland will reduce an estimated 33 tons of pollutants and particulate matter annually. Vessel shore power is an identified green-house gas reduction measure in the AB 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act) Scoping Plan.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Study
To evaluate Port energy sources, future energy demand, and feasible strategies to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources–thereby reducing emissions from fossil-fueled, diesel power generation sources, and achieve additional benefits in line with the Port’s strategic plan–the Port intends to support a comprehensive and innovative energy study in partnership with the community and other partners in the region. The Port is in the process of identifying the scope of this first-of-its-kind study for a port, and the contribution of up to $100,000 is only one source of potential funding to complete this ambitious initiative.

About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport offers 130 daily flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Please visit: www.portofoakland.com.

About The West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP):
WOEIP is a resident led, community-based environmental justice organization dedicated to achieving healthy homes, healthy jobs and healthy neighborhoods for all who live, work, learn and play in West Oakland, California. Since the year 2000, WOEIP has helped build community empowerment and help local residents to achieve their own vision for healthy neighborhoods through Community-Based Participatory Research projects and the Collaborative Problem-Solving Model. Please visit: www.woeip.org/

About The West Oakland Neighbors (WON):
WON is comprised of residents of the Clawson and McClymonds neighborhoods of the West Oakland Community. Since 1995, WON has worked on community development including crime prevention, air quality improvement, land-use, and neighborhood beautification projects to help make the neighborhood cleaner, healthier, and safer. In 1999, WON and the Port of Oakland entered into a Settlement Agreement under which the Port committed $8.975 million for the Vision 2000 Air Quality Mitigation Program.

Media Contacts:

Isaac Kos-Read
Port of Oakland Director of External Affairs
(510) 627-1565
[email protected]