Fund shore power at Port Alberni
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to fund shore power at Port Alberni loading docks so ships can plug into local electricity instead of running diesel generators. The government responds that it supports shore power, has funded projects and ran the Green Shipping Corridor Program, and says port authorities lead such investments.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces local air and noise pollution by letting ships use grid power instead of diesel generators, improving community health and living conditions.
- Delivers long-term operational and fuel savings for operators while lowering greenhouse-gas and pollutant emissions from berthed vessels.
- Relies on proven shore-power technology already used at other ports, so Port Alberni could follow an established implementation model.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Federal funding could be costly and may overlap with the port authority’s responsibilities, since port authorities are legislated to be financially self‑sufficient.
- Existing federal programs that funded shore power are not currently accepting proposals, so timely federal support may be unavailable.
- Other measures (operational limits, emissions controls, or industry investments) might achieve similar benefits with less public expenditure or different trade-offs.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED Petition to fund shore power at the Port Alberni loading docks We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled to the following: Whereas: Episodically, sometimes for as long as 7 weeks, all day and all night, the residents of Port Alberni in the vicinity of the Port of Alberni loading docks are subjected to the relentless noise and pollution caused by the constant running of diesel generators of ships berthed there. And whereas: Shore power allows ships to plug into the local electrical grid eliminating the need for diesel generated energy while at berth; Access to shore power would lessen environmental impacts; Shore power would contribute long-term economic savings due to reduced fuel consumption; Shore power would reduce noise pollution fostering a more peaceful environment for the community of Port Alberni; Shore power is a proven solution already in place in various ports world-wide including at the the Port of Vancouver. Therefore, We, the undersigned, Citizens and Residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to: prioritize the health and welfare of its citizens by funding the implementation of access to shore power for the ships using the Port of Alberni's loading docks.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Mike Kelloway The Government of Canada takes note of the campaign to prioritize the health and welfare of its citizens by funding the implementation of access to shore power for the ships using the Port of Alberni's loading docks. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of reducing air and noise pollution in and around port communities and appreciates the impact that vessel emissions and generator use can have on residents living near port operations. Shore power is a proven technology that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality, and lessen noise associated with auxiliary engines while ships are docked. Transport Canada has supported the deployment of shore power systems through two national programs that provided funding for emissions reduction projects at Canadian ports and terminals. These programs have helped ports, terminal operators, and other eligible partners adopt clean technologies that reduce environmental impacts from marine operations. Most recently, as part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to address the environmental impacts of marine shipping and to accelerate the transition to low carbon and zero emission fuels and technologies in the marine sector, Transport Canada established the Green Shipping Corridor Program to support projects that contribute to the establishment of green shipping corridors and the decarbonization of the marine sector along the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway as well as Canada’s East and West Coasts. The Program aims to remove barriers to the adoption of emission reducing equipment and infrastructure, incentivizing industry-led partnerships and investments to accelerate the adoption of greenhouse gas emission-reduction technologies and infrastructure, de-risking investments to increase the technology-readiness level of low carbon and zero-emission ship technology and marine fuels for the domestic vessel fleet, and building capacity among Canadian vessel owner/operators with respect to their ability to identify, plan and implement next generation low carbon and zero-emission ship technology and marine fuels into their vessel operations. An open call for proposals was launched on December 1, 2023, and closed on March 11, 2024. Unfortunately, the program is no longer accepting new proposals at this time. Under the program, Canadian Port Authorities were an eligible recipient. In the past, Transport Canada also approved seven shore power projects under the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program. Canada Port Authorities, such as the Port Alberni Port Authority, are federally regulated but operate at arm’s length from the Government of Canada. They are legislated to be financially self-sufficient and finance their operations from revenues. Decisions regarding investments in shore power infrastructure – including project design, timing, and implementation – are led by the port authority or terminal operators, often in collaboration with provincial, municipal, and industry partners. For more information on the program and to see what eligibility criteria were applied to the call for proposals, please visit: The Green Shipping Corridor Program.