Zero emission tractors for Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach has been awarded a US$1.2m grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) replace diesel fuelled tractors with electric vehicles.
LBCT will buy eight electric powered, zero emission yard tractors for US$5.4M with help from the Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant, in order to reduce the associated air pollution.
“These vehicles will cut pollution which will provide immediate health benefits to surrounding communities,” said Rick Cameron, the Port of Long Beach’s managing director of planning and environmental affairs.
“They are an important part of building our Port of the Future and we thank the EPA for recognising our efforts and awarding us this funding to facilitate the project for LBCT,” he added.
The electric vehicles are critical components of the port’s US$1.3bn Middle Harbour project which is said to become the world’s greenest shipping terminal, and one of the most technologically advanced, when it opens early next year. It aims to be a virtually all-electric and zero emission facility.
The Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) was created in 2005, it provides grants to state, local and tribal governments for programmes to reduce emissions from diesel engines. Since it was created the port has received about US$10.5m in grants from the EPA to reduce emissions in the harbour area.
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