The Port of San Diego will complete more clean air projects with a $5 million grant from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District’s Clean Air for All grants program. The Port will use the funds for electrical upgrades at its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal to support additional electric cargo handling equipment, fulfilling related goals in the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy.

"Since adopting the MCAS in 2021, we’ve implemented 66% of our goals and, with our partners, have committed approximately $125 million so far in maritime operations electrification to improve public health and air quality in our portside communities,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “With grants like this one from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, we are leading the charge for all ports in California to show that we can be community and environmental champions while also supporting and driving our economy with efficient maritime operations.”

The grant will be used for electrical upgrades to support additional electric cargo handling equipment like the Wiggins Yard eBull, a powerful electric forklift with a 55,000-pound lifting capacity in use by SSA Marine at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. (Photo Courtesy: SSA Marine)

“The Port of San Diego has made great strides towards their commitment to improve air quality for the Portside Communities, and their continued progress towards clean air strategies has made them a great community partner. This project will lay the foundation to support future electric equipment at the Port, thus promoting the Portside Community Emissions Reduction Plan and our vision of Clean Air for All," said Paula Forbis, Air Pollution Control Officer for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

The grant requires a $6,009,232 match from the Port, which will be allocated from the approximately $59 million EPA Clean Ports Program grant awarded to the Port in October 2024. The grant and matching funds bring the project total to more than $11 million.

The San Diego County APCD’s Clean Air for All grant program aims to reduce emissions in disadvantaged and low-income communities as well as environmental justice communities identified under Assembly Bill 617.

The Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Project includes upgrading the Port’s existing 12kV system to support battery electric cargo handling equipment, including forklifts capable of lifting between 15,000 lbs. and 50,000 lbs., Class 8 off-road battery electric yard trucks, and a top handler with DC fast chargers ranging up to 350 kW. The upgrades also involve enhancements to the supporting substation infrastructure, including the design, construction, and installation of components such as transformers, load interrupters, switchgear, switchboards, conductors, and concrete pads.