Let's Help Our Red Hook Neighbors: Tell Con Ed To Establish "Stand-By" Shore Rates For Cruise Ships

photo credit: Vidiot on Flickr

Some in Carroll Gardens still call this neighborhood Red Hook. Indeed, we were once part of
wider Red Hook, before the Brooklyn Queens expressway divided us and realtors gave our enclave a gentler, more depictive name.

But truly, what affects our neighbors by the waterfront, affects us here as well. And right now, they need our help. There is a letter writing campaign currently underway to the request the Public Service Commission (PSC) set a "stand-by" electricity rate for cruise ships.
If the PSC rules in favor, Con Edison is to make an economically viable rate available for cruise ships at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal so they can "plug in" while in port, rather than idling, as they now do.

Fellow blogger Adam Armstrong over at A View From Red Hook writes:

Can you help eliminate 100 tons of NOx, 100 tons of SOx and 6 tons of particulates per year from our neighborhoods' air, and our kids' lungs?

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is hearing a case that would set electricity rates allowing for cruise ships to "plug in" to the electricity grid while in port at the "Brooklyn Cruise Terminal" in Red Hook.

Currently, these ships "idle" constantly in port (as do the container and cargo ships), burning an extra dirty form of diesel that is at least 90 times more polluting than that used by trucks. 1 ship/day = 12,000 cars/day.

The smokestack emission from the ships - container, cargo and cruise - emit the harmful, polluting, asthma inducing and carcinogenic substances I listed above.

The proposal to "plug in" the cruise ships to "shore power" while in port would eliminate these emissions from the ships visiting the Cruise Terminal, and the cruise operators have committed to doing this, but they need an appropriate power rate to make it work, economically.

Even though this will not be the case with the container and cargo ships at the Container Terminal, it is an important first step in eliminating these harmful pollutants from our air.

I sincerely hope that you will take the time to support this initiative. It not only makes sense, it also will benefit residents on this side of the B.Q.E.
After all, we need to support our neighbors by the waterfront.
Please head on over to his blog for more information and for instructions of were to send your letter.


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