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."