Ports Long Beach and Los Angeles support $1.2 billion hydrogen grant funding

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said that projected $1.2 billion in hydrogen fuel grants to California would aid the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in their efforts to reach zero emission goals. Cordero also renewed his promotion of Pier Wind, an offshore wind farm assembly port planned for the Port of Long Beach.
California and the San Pedro Bay ports’ efforts to establish a green hydrogen market to accelerate zero-emissions operations “got jump-started with an announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today that it will award up to $1.2 billion in grant funding to a public-private partnership formed to lead California’s bid to create a hydrogen hub,” according to the Port of Los Angeles.

ARCHES

The $1.2 billion in grants will go to California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems – ARCHES.

ARCHES, on its website, states that it is “a public-private partnership to create a sustainable statewide clean hydrogen (H2) hub in California and beyond, utilizing local renewable resources to produce hydrogen with the objective to fully decarbonize the regional economy, while prioritizing environmental justice, equity, economic leadership, and workforce development.”

On October 13th, leaders of the City of Long Beach and the Port of Long Beach addressed the possibilities of new hydrogen investments.

Mario Cordero was joined by speakers that included Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Tommy Faavae, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11, and Andrew Gonzalez representing the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.

In his remarks, Cordero said: “Hydrogen opens up the portfolio of the future to have other alternatives to move towards zero … particularly with heavy-duty trucks. We are enthusiastic about the hydrogen and fuel cells powering not only ... heavy equipment, drayage trucks … and also tugboats, locomotives, and other vehicles used to move cargo.”

Cordero explained that: “The Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles have partnered for many years, for example, in the 2006 creation of the Clean Air Action Plan, a sweeping, innovative, comprehensive plan to reduce emissions in this Port complex. And not only have we reduced emissions significantly, but the plan now is to move to zero.”

Pier Wind: Offshore Wind Port

Cordero said that a critical addition to the zero-emission effort was the proposed construction of the Port of Long Beach’s Pier Wind port: “We need additional power for our zero-emission programs. One idea we have … is to build a new terminal known as Pier Wind. The Long Beach City Council had a number of suggestions and ideas, and this was one of them. Pier Wind is designed to facilitate the assembly and deployment of massive floating offshore wind turbines. This innovative project will help California meet its renewable energy goals. That goal is to move forward to a hundred percent renewable energy in the future. Once completed, the Port’s Pier Wind project will move wind turbines taller than the Eiffel Tower and we will move this to the respective lease areas up and down … Central and Northern California. Pier Wind aims to help California harness its power from (wind resources) in order to generate renewable energy at a lower cost and enhance air quality by reducing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. Lastly, I will say Pier Wind will be the largest facility specifically designated to accommodate the assembly of offshore floating wind platforms and turbines compared to any seaport in the United States.”

Port of Los Angeles

Next door at the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also spoke in favor of hydrogen grants: “Today is a special day for California and for Los Angeles. The money we are receiving will help seed a robust green hydrogen market to assist in the pursuit of zero-emissions operations. We know that we must protect and improve the health of communities directly impacted by port-related emissions and work towards a greener future while also ensuring that we create good-paying jobs. This is a team effort and together, we are locking arms with the state and federal governments in order to create a greener and safer Los Angeles for all."

Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker added: "I’m proud of the work that so many of us in the Harbor community have put into this effort - including community groups, labor, local business, and nonprofit organizations - alongside the government agencies. Together, we have been working on this for years and I’m pleased to see this day. Working with the Mayors and Ports of LA and Long Beach, this funding gives us a real opportunity to reach our goals to decarbonize the San Pedro Bay and clean the air of the surrounding communities."