The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have set out aggressive near-term and long-term strategies to cut harmful air pollution from all port-related sources to ultimately achieve zero emissions for trucks and terminal equipment.
In a draft document titled 2017 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) Update the ports revealed detailed steps to be undertaken.
“These ports are going where no port has gone before,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
“Based on what we’ve already accomplished to promote healthy, robust trade through our gateway, we’re ready to make history again, looking at a new array of technologies and strategies to further lower port-related emissions in the decades ahead.”
According to a preliminary analysis the cost of implementing the 2017 CAAP rages between USD 7 billion and USD 14 billion. Given the magnitude of the investment, the draft plan calls for the ports to intensify their funding advocacy and increase collaboration with their partners to finance the new strategies.
The ports claim that the draft 2017 CAAP ushers in a new era of clean air strategies that seek to reduce harmful emissions from port-related sources: ships, trucks, cargo handling equipment, locomotives and harbor craft.
Furthermore, the document is said to be in line with local, regional, state and federal standards and regulations, and anticipates clean air regulations under development by the California Air Resources Board.
The 2017 CAAP sets new clean air goals focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The plan carries over previous 2023 targets for cutting other primary pollutants aimed at reducing diesel particulate matter (DPM) 77 percent, sulfur oxides (SOx) 93 percent, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) 59 percent below 2005 levels.
The most recent emissions inventories show the ports have surpassed the 2023 DPM and SOx reduction targets and are within striking range of the NOx target. The 2017 CAAP identifies the tougher measures needed to ratchet down harmful emissions to zero or near-zero levels, the statement further adds.
The document’s release kicks off a public review and comment period that extends through Sept. 18.
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach handle approximately 40 percent of the nation’s total containerized import traffic and 25 percent of its total exports.
By – World Maritime News