The Port of Long Beach in California is accelerating its green future with more than $100 million in grant funding to further its zero-emissions operations transition. The funding announcement, made Sept. 9, will help the port pick up the pace of its progress towards cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gases.
A total $102 million will be used to purchase and sustain zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment, fund cleaner marine engines and plan for a zero-carbon future at its terminals. The equipment funding is part of the System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT), a pioneering initiative funded by the California State Transportation Agency’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program. The program is designed to support goods movement efficiency and reduce environmental impacts on neighboring communities.
Of the over $100 million in funding, $93.4 million will allow tenants to acquire 65 fully zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment units along with their associated charging infrastructure. Each of the units will be manually operated at the port. The money will also be used by harbor craft operators to replace 37 marine engines with cleaner engines or zero-emissions options.
The Port of Long Beach will invest $8.3 million to design zero-emissions infrastructure at SSA terminals at Pier A and Pacific Container Terminal at Pier J. Recipients of the awards will match at least 20% of the total project costs under the passthrough agreement for the grants approved by the Long Beach Harbor Commission.
This newly announced green initiative funding is part of The Port of Long Beach’s overall green plan. Nearly $225 million in grant funding was awarded to the port by the state of California in July to fund multiple zero-emissions projects. The projects will support the creation of more than 22,000 jobs. The funding will also advance projects expected to eliminate more than 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5% of nitrogen oxide emissions associated with Port-related operations annually by 2028.
Details about additional projects being completed at the Port of Long Beach can be found on the port’s website.
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