Long Beach and LA Ports Tag-Team Emissions

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have taken their first step towards completing their joint Clean Air Action Plan, which was created last year. The ports have convinced a number of trucking companies to lower emissions from trucks. They also plan to lower emissions from ships, equipment and other port sources. The goal is to lower total emissions by 45% over the next five years, and truck emissions in particular by 80%.

A key step in the plan is replacing at least half of the 16,000 diesel trucks  operating in and around the port with trucks running on liquefied natural gas. The ports are beginning by banning any trucks made in 1989 or earlier from the port as of October. Carriers including TTSI, South Counties Express and California Cartage have already agreed to make the switch over.

The port authorities have committed approximately $500 million to the change over. They’re working with Texas-based Clean Energy to create local fueling stations, and Clean Energy has already built a $70 million distribution center in the Mojave Desert to service the ports and nearby cities. The fuel distributed by Clean Energy comes from Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and California. More information is available from the Long-Beach Press-Telegram.

Photo — Junk_ID_09