A ceremony held at the Port of Long Beach saw a record-setting $383 million grant from the state’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP) issued to support 22,000 clean jobs, reduce port and freight emissions, and build up a more modern, more sustainable supply chain at one of America’s busiest ports.
A significant portion of the $383M PFIP grant is going to SWIFT (System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport) vehicles, with a battery-electric tugboat, an even dozen heavy forklifts, and 49 examples “cargo-handling equipment,” which you can read as yard hostlers, telehandlers, and reach stackers. Those funds also cover the deployment of 21 charging stations (6 for the forklifts, 15 for the other equipment assets), as well as three hybrid-electric or zero-emission shirt-run ferries and pilot vessels.
California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin visited the Port of Long Beach, yesterday, cutting a ribbon on the project(s) and symbolically putting the program into action.
“Governor Newsom’s historic commitment to freight infrastructure is strengthening our supply chains and creating economic opportunities for people across the state,” said Omishakin. “The progress seen at the Port of Long Beach is an incredible example of what’s possible when we make intentional investments in our infrastructure.”
Omishakin’s not alone in being excited about the grant and what the finds could mean for the future of freight logistics at the port.
“The Port of the Future will be faster, more efficient and cleaner and will require strong partnerships and significant financial investment,” offered Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “Thanks to the state’s commitment to a more sustainable supply chain and support from partners like SSA Terminals, Matson and the ILWU, the Port of Long Beach is accelerating our path to becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port.”
We recently had a chance to sit down with Dr. Hacegaba on an episode of Quick Charge, where we discussed port electrification and decarbonization in general, and what the future holds for green fleets, ZETs, and more at POLB.
Dr. Noel Hacegaba on Quick Charge
In addition to creating ~22,000 new jobs, the program’s funding will advance projects eliminating more than 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5% of NOx emissions associated with Port-related operations annually by 2028.
You can see the award amounts – and who’s getting how much for what – in the tables, below. Take it all in, then let us know what you think of California’s continued efforts to decarbonize their freight operations in the comments.
CMPIP project summary
| Source Category | Units / Engines Displaced | No. of Chargers | NOx Reduction (tpy) | PM Reduction (tpy) | Total Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locomotive | 1 | 0 | 1.89 | 0.04 | $2,846,087 |
| Forklifts | 12 | 6 | 0.15 | 0.07 | $2,597,562 |
| Cargo Handling Equipment | 49 | 15 | 2.45 | 0.18 | $21,446,366 |
| Commercial Harbor Craft | 25 | 0 | 33.89 | 0.37 | $31,384,983 |
Harbor craft award summary
| Recipient | Vessel Type | Technology / Tier | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baydelta Maritime LLC | Tugboat (Push/Tow) | Zero-Emission (New Purchase) | $4,000,000 |
| Harbor Breeze | Ferry | Hybrid-Electric (New Purchase) | $4,000,000 |
| Jacobsen Pilot Service | Pilot | Zero-Emission (New Purchase) | $3,233,596 |
| Long Beach Public Transportation Company | Short-Run Ferry | Zero-Emission (New Purchase) | $3,633,596 |
| Long Beach Public Transportation Company | Short-Run Ferry | Zero-Emission (New Purchase) | $2,336,301 |
| Pacific Maritime Group, Inc. | Tugboat (Push/Tow) | Tier 3 Diesel | $718,892 |
| Pacific Maritime Group, Inc. | Tugboat (Push/Tow) | Tier 4 Diesel | $1,633,027 |
| Pacific Maritime Group, Inc. | Tugboat (Push/Tow) | Tier 3 Diesel | $704,894 |
| Pacific Maritime Group, Inc. | Tugboat (Push/Tow) | Zero-Emission (New Purchase) | $4,000,000 |
| Saltchuk Resources Inc. / Northwest Tug Leasing LLC | Tugboat (Ship Assist) | Tier 4 Diesel | $4,000,000 |
| Saltchuk Resources Inc. / Northwest Tug Leasing LLC | Tugboat (Ship Assist) | Tier 4 Diesel | $3,124,677 |
| TOTAL | $31,384,983 |
SOURCE | IMAGES: Port of Long Beach, via LinkedIn.
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