A.M. Greenlist: Ships, trucks, bikes, and the Metro

>> The L.A. City Council votes for a cleaner Port of Los Angeles. As part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's clean-truck program, the L.A. Harbor Department will impose a $35 fee on most loaded containers going through the harbor. That money will subsidize the purchase of less-polluting trucks for haulers. The council also endorsed a Board of Harbor Commissioners ban on all diesel trucks built before 1989 from the port starting Oct. 1, which will be expanded in 2012 to include diesel trucks built before 2007.

>> California can't set tougher standards on emissions from ships without a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a federal appeals court. The EPA recently rejected California's bid to set tougher standards on car emissions.

>> Plans for a public bike path along the L.A. River is opposed by NBC Universal, whose execs say "they are not opposed to a bike path on their property -- they just don't want it to run along the river." NBC Universal has recently been trying hard to brand itself as a green company.

>> Check out what all eight alternatives for connecting the Metro rail system downtown would look like. You can put in your two cents on this project, called the Regional Connector Transit Corridor study, here.

>> A photography exhibit that showcases the Metro. The opening reception for “Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed" happens Sat., March 1, 7 pm - 11 pm, at Beady Minces Gallery, 1311 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. (via APLA)

>> A new blog by Emerald City contributor Damien Newton called Streetsblog LA aims to cover all things transportation in LA.

>> Eight of the U.S.'s largest water providers -- including our own Metropolitan Water District of Southern California -- formed of a coalition called Water Utility Climate Alliance to develop strategies on dealing with climate change. (via grist)

>> National parks are full of scary contaminants. Fish in eight parks are so contaminated they aren't fit for human consumption. (via grist)

>> Daylight savings time doesn't save energy. Researchers found that "Having the entire state switch to daylight-saving time each year, rather than stay on standard time, costs Indiana households an additional $8.6 million in electricity bills." (via grist)

Photo by Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times