Zero-Emissions Project Kicks Off at Port of Long Beach

The United States’ largest pilot project for zero-emissions cranes and other cargo-handling equipment for seaports has been launched at the Port of Long Beach. 

The launch event was held at Pacific Container Terminal at Long Beach’s Pier J, one of three terminals participating in the project, on April 4.

Funded mostly by a USD 9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission, the project will bring 25 vehicles that are zero- or near zero-emissions to Port of Long Beach marine terminals for one year to test their performance in a real-world setting.

“The Zero-Emissions Terminal Transition Project kicks off a new era in transportation electrification and the port’s own transformation to zero-emissions,” Lou Anne Bynum, Long Beach Harbor Commission President, commented.

“The projects we are kicking off today will help to address some of Southern California’s biggest challenges — cleaning up the air and reducing harmful greenhouse gases that cause climate change. SCE’s vision for a clean energy future means partnering with the port and other SCE customers to electrify transportation, as well as working hard to make sure the electricity that we provide to power those vehicles is produced with clean, renewable resources,” Ron Nichols, South California Edison President, commented.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in 2017 approved an update to their Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), setting a goal of transitioning all terminal equipment to zero emissions by 2030.

The project is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 1,323 tons and smog-causing nitrogen oxides by 27 tons each year. Also, the switch to zero-emissions equipment is expected to save more than 270,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

The project will include the conversion of nine diesel-electric rubber-tire gantry cranes into fully electric equipment at one terminal, the purchase of twelve battery-electric yard tractors for two more terminals, and the conversion of four LNG trucks into plug-in hybrid-electric trucks for a drayage trucking firm.