The Port of Long Beach continues its industry-leading campaign to tackle air pollution related to cargo operations, with emissions down across the board in 2023 as activity returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest audit of emissions from port operations.
The Port’s annual emissions inventory report found that since 2005, diesel particulates are down 92%, nitrogen oxides have decreased 71%, and sulfur oxides are 98% lower, all while cargo container volume increased 20%. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have been cut 17%. Progress for the annual inventory is always compared against a baseline of 2005, the year before the original San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) was adopted.
Since 2017, according to the report, proactive actions by port-related operators in addition to evolving government regulations aiming for cleaner transportation continue to make operations greener and together have driven down diesel emissions by 22%, nitrogen oxides by 34%, sulfur oxides by 20% and GHGs 2%. Container throughput was up 6% during the same period.
Several factors have contributed to lower emissions since the plan’s update, including fewer vessel calls due to growing cargo ship carrying capacity, increased shore power plug-ins, the use of renewable diesel for harbor craft, cleaner cargo-handling equipment and locomotives, and significant turnover in the drayage truck fleet to newer and cleaner vehicles.
“We are proud of the progress we have made and maintain a steadfast commitment to ensuring our operations always use the cleanest equipment and most sustainable practices,” said Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “No other port complex in North America is as committed to improving air quality and diminishing health risks.”
“Our ultimate goal is to be an emissions-free port,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We’ve made significant headway, but getting to this destination is going to require partnerships with private industry to drive new technologies forward, collaboration with other agencies who share our vision and continued close cooperation with our supply chain partners who have helped us get to where we are today.
Long an industry leader in environmentally sustainable seaport operations, the Port of Long Beach is driving to become the nation’s first zero-emissions port for drayage and cargo handling. Some notable strides toward these goals over the last year include:
• The Port received more than $792 million in grants from federal and state partners last year, besting the previous record of $401 million set in 2010. A majority of the grant awards will be used to build “America’s Green Gateway,” the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility. On-dock rail moves cargo directly to and from marine terminals by trains, reducing emissions and stress on the local and regional road network. Other projects covered by the funding include advancing the transition to cleaner operations.
• Through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck Bus Voucher Incentive Project, the Port made $30 million available in Clean Truck Fund Rate dollars for vouchers toward the purchase of zero-emissions, Class 8 drayage trucks. Together with the Port of Los Angeles, $60 million was committed.
• Zero-emissions heavy-duty electric trucks operating in the harbor have more opportunities to recharge in the Port. With groundbreakings of two new charging depots this year by private companies, there will soon be more than 100 publicly available charging units.
• The Port continues to push forward plans for Pier Wind, a facility that would support the manufacture and assembly of offshore wind turbines standing as tall as the Eiffel Tower. It would be the largest facility at any U.S. seaport specifically designed to accommodate the assembly of offshore wind turbines.
