PORT OF LOS ANGELES EXPANDS MARINA ENGINE EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND ELECTRIC MOTORS

Qualifying Boat Owners May Receive up to $3K toward Outboard Motor Replacement

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — April 2, 2015 — As part of its ongoing commitment to improve air quality in the local area, the Port of Los Angeles has revitalized and expanded its existing Marina Engine Exchange Program to include all-electric and alternatively fuelled motors. Originally introduced in 2012, the Marina Engine Exchange Program provides funding (75% of the total cost, up to $2,000) for local boat owners to upgrade old, highly polluting motors with California Air Resources Board (CARB) three-star certified ultra-low emission motors. To date, the program has helped purchase nearly 100 outboard motors, resulting in the reduction of approximately 7,150 pounds of hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen annually.

New alternatively fuelled engines all meet CARB’s exhaust emission standards, while all-electric engines have zero exhaust emissions. Considering that the all-electric engines provide a greater emissions benefit, and recognizing that most are significantly more expensive than the combustion based motors, the Port of Los Angeles will offer up to $3,000 to boat owners choosing to purchase an electric motor.

In order to qualify, an applicant’s boat must have an operational, two-stroke outboard motor no greater than 20 horsepower and be located in a Port of Los Angeles marina. The old motor will be replaced with an approximate equivalent horsepower rating (up to 15 horsepower). Upon engine replacement, the boat must remain in a Port of Los Angeles marina for at least one year.

For an application form email engineexchange@portla.org, or call (310) 732-2675. Grant funding will be approved until all available funds have been distributed.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life. As North America’s leading seaport in terms by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $290 billion in trade during 2014. Port operations and commerce facilitate more than 148,000 jobs (about one in 12) in the City of Los Angeles and 531,000 jobs (or one in 16) in the five-county Southern California region. The San Pedro Bay Ports support more than 1 million California jobs and 3.1 million nationwide.