California Energy Commission Awards Port of Long Beach Zero-Emissions Equipment Grant

The California Energy Commission has announced a Notice of Proposed Award for a $9.7 million grant to the Port of Long Beach to fund one of the nation’s largest demonstration projects for zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment.

The project would involve the design and creation of 25 new or converted electric cargo handling vehicles and is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 1,323 tons, while also reducing smog-causing nitrogen oxides by 27 tons. Also, the switch to zero-emissions equipment is expected to save more than 270,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

Harbor Commission President Lori Ann Guzmán said the Port is grateful for the Commission’s desire to invest in the project. “We are the Green Port and other ports look to us to set the example,” Guzmán said. “This award is an important step in the Port of Long Beach’s goal of becoming a zero-emissions port. It will go a long way in significantly reducing the amount of emissions generated from operations at the port and make our air cleaner for the communities surrounding it.”

The project will include the conversion of nine diesel-electric rubber tire gantry cranes into fully electric equipment for SSA Marine terminal, the purchase of 12 battery-electric yard tractors for International Transportation Service and the Long Beach Container Terminal, and the conversion of Total Transportation Services Inc., four underpowered Class 8, liquefied natural gas trucks into plug-in hybrid-electric trucks. These trucks will also be outfitted with a software system that enables them to be programmed to operate only in zero-emissions mode near Port communities.

For more information on the Port of Long Beach and its continued environmental stewardship efforts, please visit www.polb.com.