Hueneme secures critical US$4m for shore power

This latest Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, approved by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), supports the final phase of the port’s North Terminal Shoreside Power Project.

“We’re thrilled to receive this critical funding for our shoreside power project,” said Jess J. Ramirez, president of the Oxnard Harbor District/Port of Hueneme.

“The port takes its longstanding commitment to sustainability seriously and we can now finish a project that will bring cleaner air to local communities.”

Critical infrastructure

The funding will be used to install building systems and equipment that protect the new port infrastructure against severe weather, enhance operational safety and extend the system’s lifespan.

Construction is set to begin this summer. Once completed, vessels at berth will shut down diesel engines and plug into shore power, dramatically reducing harmful emissions and supporting long-term port electrification goals.

Meanwhile, Hueneme also has a shorepower project planned for its south terminal. The South Terminal Shoreside Power project design is currently under review by the City of Port Hueneme Community and Economic Development Department. 

The Port of Hueneme faced substantial setbacks following severe damage to its shoreside power system during an unprecedented rain and flooding event on December 21 and 22, 2023.

At that time, internal and external engineering teams including Schneider Electric, Southern California Edison, H3 Engineering and CAL-OES determined the system was beyond repair and needed full replacement. Projected costs to rebuild the full system are upwards of US$30 million to US$40 million.