World Trade - March 2009 - (Page 25) Port of Stockton/Phil diMarino, ColorNet., Inc. 9,284 TEUs. Vessel calls were also down dramatically (24 percent) to only 54 in January. The sole bright spot was breakbulk shipments, which were up 6.2 percent to 47,515 tons. On another ‘green’ note, one of the most promising developments for the Port of Vancouver USA was the recent extension of a contract with Vestas American Wind Technology along with a new two-year contract with Siemens Energy to handle wind turbine shipments. Together, the two contracts alone could provide 235 new jobs and $20 million in economic value to the entire port region, said Larry Paulson, the port’s executive director. In 2000, Vestas, a Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer with offices in Portland, Oregon, started shipping product through Vancouver, Washington. By 2005, wind machines accounted for 18,551 metric tons of port cargo. That metric tonnage grew to 30,423 in 2006 and in 2007 hit 77,525 metric tons. Last year’s figures were lower, however, due to uncertainty over federal tax credits for wind energy plants. But, Congress has since extended the credit so shipments should again start to increase. At the same time, new laws in the state of Washington are expected to prompt its largest utilities to beef up their use of renewable energy sources, which bode well for wind turbine manufacturers. According to Marc Krasnowsky, communications director for the NW Energy Coalition in Seattle, “That has created a market for businesses like Vestas and Siemens to sell and construct wind facilities in the state, and that’s why they’re coming through the Port of Vancouver.” Nancy Baker, president of the port’s three-member commission, said that wind energy cargo generated about 14,000 hours of dock work for longshoremen in 2005, and about 72,000 hours in 2007. In 2009, port officials estimate that over 100,000 longshore hours will be devoted to the handling of wind energy cargo. The port purchased a second crane to handle wind turbine shipments, that should be up and running by March 15. Another benefit the port has for wind shipments is access to vast areas of land around the port’s four terminals, which is necessary to stage the wind energy equipment during the shipment process. Port director Paulson summed it up recently when he said, “Wind energy products are the bright spot. When you see them traveling through our community and down our streets, be patient and think about how many jobs they create.” Winds of change The Port of Stockton is one of the largest receivers of wind turbines in the world. An availability of inexpensive land and a location in the heart of the renewables market are a big plus for the port. The good news being generated by wind energy shipments such as those at the Port of Vancouver USA is being shared among other West Coast ports, namely California’s Port of West Sacramento and nearby Port of Stockton. Last month, the Port of West Sacramento received a shipment of two, huge generators—the largest pieces of equipment ever unloaded at the port—destined for Pacific Gas & Electric’s (P&E) Colusa Generating Station, a new 660-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant located near Maxwell, California. “The Port of West Sacramento is playing a key role in helping us develop the state-of-the-art power facility,” WWW.WORLDTRADEMAG.COM 25 http://WWW.WORLDTRADEMAG.COM
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