HYDROGEN ERA DAWNS AT SAN PEDRO BAY PORTS COMPLEX
Up to $1.2 Billion Federal Grant to California Will Help Power Supply Chain’s Zero-Emissions Future
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Oct. 13, 2023 – The San Pedro Bay ports’ efforts to help seed a robust green hydrogen market to assist in the pursuit of zero-emissions operations got jump-started with an announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy today that it will award up to $1.2 billion in grant funding to a public-private partnership formed to lead California’s bid to create a hydrogen hub.
“Today is a special day for California and for Los Angeles, said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “The money we are receiving will help seed a robust green hydrogen market to assist in the pursuit of zero-emission operations. We know that we must protect and improve the health of communities directly impacted by port-related emissions and work towards a greener future while also ensuring that we create good paying jobs. This is a team effort and together, we are locking arms with the state and federal governments in order to create a greener and safer Los Angeles for all."
"I’m proud of the work that so many of us in the Harbor community have put into this effort - including community groups, labor, local business, and nonprofit organizations - alongside the government agencies,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker. “Together, we have been working on this for years and I’m pleased to see this day. Working with the Mayors and Ports of LA and Long Beach, this funding gives us a real opportunity to reach our goals to decarbonize the San Pedro Bay and clean the air of the surrounding communities."
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s largest seaport complex, are project partners and will receive a portion of the state’s grant funds to advance the use of hydrogen fuel in goods movement. These funds, which will be equally matched by the ports and their tenants, will involve deploying hydrogen fuel cell cargo-handling equipment and mobile hydrogen fueling trucks or stations in the ports’ terminals. Subsequent phases will add additional cargo-handling equipment and support the statewide deployment of 5,000 hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks.
ARCHES – the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems – administered California’s grant application for a green hydrogen hub under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the H2Hubs program will be one of the largest investments in the history of the Department of Energy.
“We’re thrilled to play a significant role in this hydrogen hub public-private partnership,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Lucille Roybal-Allard. “Transitioning to hydrogen fuel technology in the maritime and transportation industries is critical as the Port of Los Angeles moves toward our ultimate goal of zero emissions.”
“The Port of Los Angeles is eager to partner with ARCHES in our quest to zero-emissions operations,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. “We’ll use this grant, along with unprecedented levels of port funding, to support the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell powered equipment on all modes of transportation throughout the port complex. We are excited about the transformation that hydrogen will play in our zero emission future.”
Together, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles created the landmark Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) — a sweeping, innovative and comprehensive strategy to tackle every source of port-related air pollution.
Updated in 2017, the CAAP is a comprehensive strategy for accelerating progress toward a zero-emissions future while protecting and strengthening the ports’ competitive position in the global economy. Since 2005, port-related air pollution emissions in San Pedro Bay have dropped 90% for diesel particulate matter, 61% for nitrogen oxides, and 95% for sulfur oxides. Targets for reducing greenhouse gases from port-related sources were introduced as part of the 2017 CAAP. The document calls for the ports to reduce GHGs 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The Clean Air Action Plan was originally approved in 2006.
For more information, visit www.cleanairactionplan.org.