Shore Power Technology for Ports Program
The Honourable DenisLebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and WaiYoung, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, announced that the Government of Canada is continuing its commitment to limit air emissions from the Canadian transportation sector.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to launch the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program,” said MinisterLebel. “This $27.2-million contribution program will help Canadian ports install shore power, which will reduce air emissions from ships, protect the environment and health of Canadians, and further Canada’s economic prosperity.”
Shore power technology for ports, also called marine shore power or cold-ironing, is a leading-edge technology that allows ships to turn off their diesel engines while docked and connect to an electrical power supply at the port facility. This technology will improve local air quality by reducing air pollution from ships in some of Canada’s largest urban centres and will also contribute to ports’ competitiveness.
“As we have seen with the success of shore power for cruise ships at Port Metro Vancouver, this program will also help Canada’s tourism sector to take advantage of growth opportunities, increase tourism revenues and create jobs in all regions of Canada,” said MP Young.
The Shore Power Technology for Ports Program builds on TransportCanada’s successful Marine Shore Power Program that was introduced in2007 and concludes in March2012. This demonstration program provided $2million to Port Metro Vancouver to install shore power technology for cruise ships and $1.8million to the Port of Prince Rupert to support the installation of shore power for container ships.
Following consultations with port authorities and terminal operators in winter2012, a call for proposals will be issued this spring. Canadian Port Authorities and private entities engaged in operating and/or that own marine ports and terminals in Canada will be eligible for funding.
Funding for the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program was provided in Budget2011 as part of the renewal of the Government of Canada’s Clean Air Agenda.
The Clean Transportation Initiatives will focus on aligning Canadian regulations with those in the UnitedStates and with international standards, improving the efficiency of the transportation system and on advancing green technologies. These initiatives will help Canada achieve its economy-wide target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17percent from2005 levels by2020.
Source: Transport Canada