Ports-funded projects accelerate move towards zero emissions

The Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles are offering seed money to foster the development of new goods-movement technologies that improve air quality.

The funding is part of the ports’ Technology Advancement Program, or TAP. This year’s 2018 Call for Projects requests concept papers for a variety of projects that have the potential to reduce emissions, including diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and greenhouse gases. Projects for vessels, trucks, trains, terminal equipment and harbor craft that warrant further consideration will be invited later to submit a full proposal. Concept papers are due Tuesday, May 22.

Since 2007, the Ports have distributed over $21 million in funds to advance the commercial availability of technology that will help lower health risks posed by air pollution from ships, trucks, harbor craft, cargo handling equipment and rail locomotives serving the Ports.

The TAP was created by the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), adopted in 2006. The CAAP, a landmark effort aimed at lowering health risks from air pollution, was updated last November. The update calls for even more aggressive strategies to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases and to ultimately transition to zero emissions operations over the next 20 years.

Compared to 2005 levels, port-related air pollution emissions in San Pedro Bay have dropped 87 percent for diesel particulate matter, 56 percent for nitrogen oxides, and 97 percent for sulfur oxides. Targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) from port-related sources were introduced as part of the 2017 CAAP Update. The document calls for the ports to reduce GHGs 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.