PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 7, 2022
In a New York Times article, Lisa M. Collins pointed out that “when not using shore power, a single cruise ship docked for one day can emit as much diesel exhaust as 34,400 idling tractor-trailers, according to an independent analysis verified by the Environmental Protection Agency.” Taking the 34,400 idling tractor trailers and multiplying by the 95 cruise ships expected in Portland this year totals the equivalent of roughly 3,268,000 tractor-trailers – an enormous amount of toxic air pollution that we are breathing for months. How long are we going to ignore the serious health and environmental implications of allowing cruise ships in Casco Bay? ~ Susanne Newman, Portland