The plan is being called the most comprehensive in U.S. seaport history and a landmark effort to cut

Over a five-year time line provisions could include retrofitting or replacing trucks involved in the sea port with cleaner-burning engines and drive mechanisms, having lease language that ships use "cold ironing" or shore-provided electrical power instead of idling their engines to generate power, enforce truck idling limits and upgrade diesel electric engines on rail yard locomotives.

This would reduce particulate matter (PM) by 50 percent and nitrogen oxide by 45 percent over the next 5 years. 

Read the Press telegram’s article on June 28 here and the result of the vote on June 20 here.

Home builders upped the pace of new construction in May after three slow months though they are down 3.8% from a year earlier. Building permits were also 8.5% lower than a year earlier.  The Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the housing market is experiencing an "orderly and moderate" correction following last year’s peak.   Yet some economists are puzzled why builders keep up the supply of new homes when demand is weakening.   Interestingly enough, the South is the only region where the rate of new-home construction is up from a year earlier.  And of course, construction of apartment buildings are up so are conversions to condominium. Nation-wide, residential housing with five or more units were nearly 15% higher than a year earlier.

Click here if you would like to read the Real Estate Journal’s article.