A new study of air pollution at the Port of Long Beach has found an 88% reduction of diesel soot and a 19% decrease in greenhouse gases emissions compared to 2005.
This is according to the Port’s annual emissions inventory report, presented to the Board of Harbor Commissioners on Thursday.
Despite containerized cargo at Port of Long Beach growing 14% since 2005, the report reveals lower emissions for diesel particulates and sulfur oxides in 2019.
Specifically, diesel particulates were down by 88% and sulfur oxides by 97%. Meanwhile, smog-forming nitrogen oxides have decreased 58% and GHG emissions were down by 19%.
The pollution levels are all in comparison to the 2005 baseline, the year before the original San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) took effect. The CAAP was last updated in 2017 and incorporates numerous strategies to continue to reduce emissions from port operations in San Pedro Bay.
The results are in line with the Port’s ambition to minimize its emissions through investments in first-of-its-kind, zero-emissions equipment through the Technology Advancement Program, and other grant-funded projects.
Namely, the Port is currently implementing demonstration projects that will test 60 different pieces of zero-emissions equipment.
Although we are meeting most of our emissions goals, it is becoming clear we are at the limits of existing technology. That’s why we are investing millions to develop and deploy the cleaner equipment,
…said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna.
Approximately 15% the cargo-handling fleet at the Port is already zero emissions today.
Right now, we have $150 million in projects all across our port, all in the name of cleaner air. We are aggressively pursuing the CAAP goals of having a zero-emissions cargo-handling fleet by 2030 and all zero-emissions drayage trucks by 2035,
…added Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero.
The US EPA, California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District review the annual emissions inventory.
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