World’s Most Advanced, Environmentally Friendly Cargo Handling Facility Moves Closer to Net Zero Operations: Additional Funding Sought for Greenest Port Terminal in U.S.
Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) has received a $34.9 million Federal Highway Administration grant to replace more than 150 vehicles at its state-of-the-art cargo handling facility with zero-emission electric trucks and buses as well as to build the supporting charging infrastructure on site.
The grant, secured with the help of Long Beach Congressman Robert Garcia, continues LBCT’s multi-billion-dollar investment in advanced zero-emission technologies, innovative cargo-handling efficiencies, and carbon-slashing strategies that makes it one of the nation’s busiest – and greenest – terminal facilities.
“Our vehicle electrification project, coupled with previous investments, enables LBCT to achieve a unique status that is reframing the way the world views sustainable goods movement, enhancing community quality of life, and climate change,” said Anthony Otto, LBCT Chief Executive Officer. “LBCT is grateful for the support and leadership of Congressman Garcia in securing this grant. We continue our path to Net Zero in a truly collaborative approach with our workers, the community, our elected officials and our shipping customers and partners.”
"The Long Beach Container Terminal is currently one of the cleanest port terminals in the country and a shining example of the public-private partnerships needed to reduce emissions at our nation's ports. This investment is a huge win for clean air, electrification, and the region. These federal dollars will make our port cleaner, safer, and help us meet our climate goals,” said Congressman Garcia. “We will continue fighting in Washington to improve public health, fight for environmental justice and against climate change, and support green jobs in our community by greening our critical supply chains. Thank you to President Biden and the team at the U.S. Department of Transportation for their partnership."
The grant was provided through the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities program under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Matched with LBCT’s own funding, the monies will be directed at the $44 million LBCT Electrification Advancement Project (LEAP). The project will reduce emissions by replacing 155 on-terminal trucks and buses with zero-emission technologies. Other benefits will include:
- Address environmental justice by engaging and providing relief to residents, port workers and businesses in a region severely impacted by air-quality issues.
- Promote good-paying, union jobs during construction through a partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and during operations through the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which will maintain the charging equipment and operate all rolling-stock electric equipment.
LBCT’s more than $2.5 billion, 15-year effort to convert its cranes and cargo-handling vehicles to zero-emission electric has already resulted in an 86 percent reduction in greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions to date, while quadrupling LBCT’s cargo-handling capacity. The company also has deployed emission-offset strategies that further reduce impacts on the disadvantaged communities surrounding the San Pedro Bay complex and in other parts of California. These achievements stand out in the goods movement sector, where reducing carbon impacts is stubbornly difficult due to the types of equipment used and round-the-clock operations.
In addition to LEAP, LBCT’s Net Zero infrastructure transition plan includes other key elements such as additional electric-charging stations, clean-power generation and storage, converting to EV another set of trucks that move containers to trains, and onsite renewables.
Additionally, LBCT continues to collaborate with operators of ships, trucks, and trains to incentivize clean cargo goods movement across the entire sector to help meet clean air goals for Southern California, as well as comply with new and emerging regulations regarding emission reporting for companies.
LBCT’s Net Zero plan and progress report can be found here.
About Long Beach Container Terminal. Founded in 1986, Long Beach Container Terminal does marine terminal operations and is the home of the advanced Middle Harbor Terminal facility. LBCT has three berths within Pier, E at the Port of Long Beach featuring 4200 feet of wharf line and the deepest dredged dockside of any U.S. Pacific Coast port. LBCT runs 18 ship-to-shore cranes, six intermodal rail cranes, 69 yard gantry cranes – all electrified – and 102 autonomous battery powered transport vehicles. More at: www.lbct.com.
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