The California Energy Commission has given notice of a proposed US$9.7 million grant to the Port of Long Beach to fund a zero-emissions project.

According to the port, the US$13.7 million project involves the electrification of nine diesel-electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes at the SSA Marine Terminal, the purchase of 12 battery-electric yard tractors for the International Transportation Service terminal and the Long Beach Container Terminal, and the conversion of four underpowered Class 8, liquefied natural gas trucks into plug-in hybrid-electric trucks at the Total Transportation Services Inc. terminal. All these vehicles will demonstrate their capabilities for 12 months.

“We are the Green Port and other ports look to us to set the example,” said Lori Ann Guzmán, president of the Harbor Commission. “This award is an important step in the Port of Long Beach’s goal of becoming a zero-emissions port. It will go a long way in significantly reducing the amount of emissions generated from operations at the port and make our air cleaner for the communities surrounding it.”

The grant is awaiting final approval from the Energy Commission.

The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 1,230 tonnes and nitrogen oxides by 27 tonnes, and will save more than 270,000 gallons of diesel fuel, according to the port.