LB Port Achieves Major Emissions Reduction Goals

The Port of Long Beach is making major strides in reducing ship emissions and improving air quality. According to the 2017 emissions inventory, the port cut diesel particulates by 88%, sulfur oxides by 97% and nitrogen oxides by 56% since 2005. The reductions in ship emissions are even more impressive, considering cargo volumes increased steadily in the last few years, up 11% in 2017 alone and a total of 12% since 2005. As a result of the aggressive reduction in port emissions, the port is currently outpacing its 2023 clean air goals, outlined in the 2005 Green Port Policy.

“The annual inventory is an important part of the 2005 Green Port Policy. We committed to reducing our environmental impact on our neighbors and to make sure the community could easily chart our progress in that effort. The inventory is one way that anyone can see the progress,” Lee Peterson of the Port of Long Beach, tells GlobeSt.com. “At-berth emissions from ships are virtually eliminated in more than half of all container ship calls at the Port with a practice called “shore power,” where ships plug into electricity while docked, and shut down diesel engines. As the practice has increased in recent years, it has gone a long way to reducing emissions, even as cargo volume rises.”

The Port of Long Beach’s ultimate goal is to reduce diesel particulates to 77%, sulfur oxides to 93% and nitrogen oxides to 59%. The port is on the road to reaching its goals, but plans to continue to make green investments. “Our next steps are on the road to zero emissions for the cargo handling equipment by 2030 and the drayage fleet by 2035, and there will be incremental improvement along the way thanks to goals for near-zero emission equipment much sooner,” says Peterson.