The California Air Resources Board’s Vessels At-Berth regulation, which requires ocean-going ships to use shore power or approved emission-control equipment, is being identified as a potential target for federal repeal. The policy was enabled by a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted during the Biden administration.
The regulation requires ships docked at California ports to plug into land-based electrical grids or use specific equipment to reduce carbon emissions while at port. Failure to comply with these requirements results in fines. California state estimates indicate that the cost of compliance for shipping companies will exceed $2.2 billion through the year 2032.
California's ports currently handle approximately 40% of all goods imported into the United States. Proponents of repealing the federal waiver argue that the compliance costs incurred at these ports are passed through the supply chain, eventually appearing as higher prices for consumer products such as clothing, appliances, and construction materials nationwide.
A person purchasing imported goods would notice these costs reflected in store-shelf price tags for a wide range of products, including toys, appliances, and electronics. The regulation aims to reduce carbon emissions at the local port level, but critics of the mandate state that these costs are being added without a corresponding reduction in toxic waste or other local environmental harms. The financial burden is initially borne by the maritime industry but is distributed through the logistics chain to retail sectors.
A potential repeal could be executed by the Trump administration using the Congressional Review Act or by having the EPA revisit and overturn the specific waivers granted to California. This would effectively halt the implementation of the Vessels At-Berth rule. If the administration moves forward with this priority, the timing of when consumers might see price changes would depend on the speed of the federal regulatory review and how quickly shipping companies adjust their pricing models. The exact date for such an action has not been reported.