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New Bedford to study cold ironing

New Bedford to study cold ironing

The U.S. Maritime Administration is putting up $150,000 for a collaborative partnership with the Port of New Bedford to see if having ships use shore-generated electricity while in port cuts down on air pollution.

   MarAd said air emissions from ships are an important environmental concern, especially in port cities. The use of shore power, also called “cold ironing,” has been offered as a possible opportunity to reduce emissions from vessels. Critics say that cold ironing simply shifts emissions from ships to the shore-based electrical generating plant.

   This partnership sets out to examine more closely the efficacy of shore-based power, focusing on port service or areas where shore power might realistically be employed, and on alternative energy sources that might be better for the environment, MarAd said.