(Photo: Autonomous guided electric vehicles at the Port of Long Beach in 2017. Credit: Dennis Schroeder / NREL, Flickr Creative Commons)The Port of Long Beach slashed air emissions across the board between 2005 and 2018, according to the latest annual inventory conducted by an independent consultant. Those reductions include an 87% total cut in diesel particulate matter.
Published this week, the “Port of Long Beach Air Emissions Inventory 2018” was prepared by Starcrest Consulting Group. The report used 2005 as the baseline year.
“The study calculates the amount of pollution coming from all the ships, trucks, locomotives, harbor craft and yard equipment working at the port, with the help of terminal operators and other businesses,” the Port of Long Beach explained. The US EPA, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the South Coast Air Quality Management District review the results.
During the 2005 to 2018 period evaluated, Starcrest determined these reductions besides the one in diesel particulate matter: carbon dioxide was down by 16%, carbon monoxide down by 40%, oxides of nitrogen by 56%, hydrocarbons by 57%, particulate matter by 85% for 2.5-micron and by 87% for 10-micron, and oxides of sulfur were cut by 97%.
“We’ve accomplished these reductions even while container traffic has risen 21% since 2005,” Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero said. Ultimately the Port of Long Beach’s goal is to transition to zero-emissions by 2035.
Despite all the reductions, the port-funded study did reveal a slight increase in diesel particulates and greenhouse gas emissions between 2017 and 2018. Port officials say the uptick was due to a record throughput of 8.1 million 20-foot equivalent units last year.
Currently the port manages $150 million in clean air projects, including $80 million in grant funding to demonstrate zero emissions equipment and advanced energy systems in port operations, Cordero added.
Last year Schneider Electric agreed to create a microgrid technology demonstration for the port. In late April, Toyota and Kenworth’s fuel cell electric heavy-duty trucks hit the road after more than 14,000 miles of testing at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
“We’re seeing the results of the hard work by the port and the goods movement industry, and we’re showing the world that sustainable cargo movement is possible,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission president Bonnie Lowenthal.
