Earth Day 2022 marked another year of environmental achievement for the Port of Long Beach as it continues to pursue the most ambitious sustainability goals for any seaport in the world. The replacement Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach Harbor was lit green in honor of Earth Day.

In a series of green moves, earlier this month, on April 1, the port, along with the Port of Los Angeles, launched the Clean Truck Fund rate, which will pay cargo owners up to $20 per loaded container transported in or out of ports. , was collected. ' terminals. Between the two ports, the tariff is expected to generate up to $90 million in the first year to pay for zero-emission vehicles and the supporting infrastructure for charging and refueling. It is part of the goal of fully transitioning the truck fleet to zero emissions by 2035.

The tariff builds on the Clean Truck Program, which has already succeeded in phasing out older, dirtier trucks. Today, more than 20,000 trucks are registered to serve the ports of San Pedro Bay. All are model year 2007 or newer and more than 60% are model year 2014 or newer.

In February, the port broke ground with a new microgrid demonstration project, which will use an array of solar panels and batteries to power the port's security center while improving air quality by providing clean power for day-to-day operations. The project also reduces the port's reliance on diesel generators to produce electricity during outages.

Also in February, the port requested suppliers to help create one of the largest networks of publicly accessible electric charging stations for the battery-electric heavy-duty drayage trucks that will serve the port complex. The aim of the Port is to support the installation of at least 100 chargers in the Port area.

“The Port of Long Beach was America's first green port and we continue to lead the way in sustainability,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “From construction to procurement to zero-emission development of clean technology, I am proud of what the port has done, and more importantly, what it will do in the future to tackle climate change.”

“This Earth Day, we not only look back on our many environmental achievements, but we also look forward to achieving the ambitious goals we have set for the port for the coming years,” said Mario Cordero, Executive Director of Port of Long Beach. "We've come a long way, but we're far from done."

In addition to air quality, port water is an equally important priority for the port. The latest research on water quality, aquatic habitat and biological resources in San Pedro Bay, released in 2021, shows that the harbor's ecosystem is thriving, with more than 1,000 species of aquatic plants, fish, birds, invertebrates and marine mammals.

Meanwhile, the Port continues to look for more innovative ways to be green. The Port's Community Grants Program helps local groups financially implement health, facility improvement and community infrastructure projects to reduce port-related impacts on air and water quality, traffic and noise. Since 2009, the port has earmarked more than $65 million for the program. For example, Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach began construction this year on a new stormwater recovery project that will help Rancho's historic site conserve water and educate the public about the importance of stormwater management. The project received a $1 million Port Community Grant.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world's major seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a forerunner in freight traffic and environmental management. As the second busiest seaport for containers in the United States, the port handles more than $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs nationwide, including 575,000 in Southern California.