Green Ports: Exploring Electrification of Ports in the Southern California Air Basin
Abstract
As concerns surrounding the impacts of anthropogenic climate change have grown so has the acknowledgment that air pollution continues to adversely impact health outcomes, especially in marginalized communities. In the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB), air pollutants accumulate in the valley due to thermal inversion and contribute to the hyper-prevalence of various acute and chronic cardiometabolic conditions. Among other factors, activities in the Port of Long Beach are a primary contributor to emissions. Our project aims to transition port equipment to more sustainable energy methods to reduce diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxide pollutants from the port. Although there are current policies set in place by the state of California through the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) to electrify the equipment used in ports, this process can be expedited by expanding the coverage to older piers that still rely on non-electric means of fuel. Piers T, E, and F of the Port of Long Beach will be retrofitted with 5 electric rubber-tire gantry cranes, 8 electric yard trucks, and 10 electric forklifts, in order to transition their current equipment to electrified vehicles. We estimate this project will cost a total of $15 million, with support of $10 million in grants from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and $5 million from the California Energy Commission in funding to cover expenses associated with the installation and maintenance of this equipment and appropriate workforce development.
