Port Amps Up Zero-Emissions Goals

Energy-efficient lighting is one example of the Port of Long Beach’s initiative to reduce its footprint.

LOS ANGELES—The Port of Long Beach has approved a rebate plan to incentivize tenants to update old and inefficient electrical equipment. The Energy Efficiency Rebate Match Program creates a fund of $500,000 to reimburse tenants up to 100% of their equipment purchase costs, which will ultimately help the port meet its zero-emissions goals.

“As Port operations include more and more electrical equipment to meet our zero-emission goals, energy use is also increasing. Currently, all Port operations use a single source of electricity—the Southern California Edison utility grid,” Christine Houston, manager of sustainable practices at the Port of Long Beach, tells GlobeSt.com. “Our strategy for expansion and increased use of zero-emission equipment must take into account the need for resiliency and less dependence on a single source of power. Therefore, we’re planning for more on-site generation to complement SCE’s grid power, and eventually we want to be able to run critical assets on self-generated power in the event of a grid emergency. Where energy efficiency comes in is that we reduce the amount of power we would otherwise need to generate. Most of the energy efficiency strategies are also very cost effective now, but require capital investment and we feel the EERM program incentives will help motivate our tenants to make the investments.”