Award will replace 8 LBCT vehicles, cut pollution
The Port of Long Beach has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) replace diesel-fueled tractors with electric, zero-emission vehicles. The Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant will help LBCT to buy eight cargo-handling electric-powered yard tractors for $5.4 million, replacing a matching number of diesel-powered yard tractors and reducing the associated air pollution. The electric vehicles are critical components of the Port’s $1.3 billion Middle Harbor project, which when opened early next year will be the world’s greenest shipping terminal, and one of the most technologically advanced  — a virtually all-electric and zero emissions facility. “These vehicles will cut pollution, providing immediate health benefits to surrounding communities,” said Rick Cameron, the Port’s Managing Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs. “They’re an important part of building our Port of the Future and we thank the EPA for recognizing our efforts and awarding us this funding to facilitate the project for LBCT.” The project is expected to reduce emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 40 tons and diesel particulate matter by two tons during the lifecycle of the equipment. Vehicles are scheduled for delivery by the spring or summer of 2017. The Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) was created in 2005 and provides grants to state, local and tribal governments for programs to reduce emissions from diesel engines. It is estimated every $1 allocated by the legislation’s grants results in about $13 worth of health and environmental benefits. Since 2005, the Port has received about $10.5 million in grants from the EPA to reduce emissions in the Harbor area. The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 175 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $180 billion in trade annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of Southern California jobs.