On Monday, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the appointment of Renee Moilanen to lead the Port of Long Beach’s forward-looking sustainability programs as Director of Environmental Planning starting July 15, 2023.
Environmental Planning is the Port division most directly responsible for the Port’s signature environmental policies and programs including the Green Port Policy and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). Under the 2005 Green Port Policy, a landmark industry initiative, the division coordinates programs to improve air, water and soil quality, preserve wildlife habitat and integrate sustainability into Port practices. Due to the effectiveness of these programs, total diesel emissions at the Port have dropped by 91% since 2005, and biodiversity and health of the harbor have improved.
Most recently, Moilanen was Director of Ports at Build Momentum, which specializes in developing campaigns for organizations working on transformative water, energy, transportation and manufacturing technologies. She was previously a consultant for Starcrest Consulting Group, which helps conduct the Port’s annual emissions inventory.
The appointment brings Moilanen back to the Port of Long Beach, where she played a key role in advancing clean air programs as Manager of Air Quality Practices from 2014-19. She also served as an environmental specialist, environmental specialist associate and communications administrative analyst during a Port career that began in 2006.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a master’s of public policy in health policy from the University of California, Los Angeles.
The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California. In 2023, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the fifth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.3 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.
