Ports to Update Clean Air Plan

As mayors of Long Beach and Los Angeles set zero-emission goals for the local ports, energy industry leaders and port officials are considering ways to further reduce air pollution for the next two decades, whether through alternative fuels, such as renewable natural gas (RNG), or an all-electric system.  

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are updating their Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), first established by the twin ports about a decade ago to reduce emissions from trucks, ships and terminals. A new draft CAAP 2017 is being released July 19, with final approval expected this November.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made a pledge last month declaring their commitment for the San Pedro Bay Ports to reach zero-emissions by 2035 or in about 18 years. The mayors also reaffirmed their commitment to adopting the Paris climate accord and to “double down” on efforts to combat climate change while President Donald Trump has recently withdrawn the United States from the agreement.  

Over the next few years, some goals of the updated CAAP will include: making new investments in clean technology, expanding at-berth emission reductions and launching a zero-emissions drayage truck pilot program, according to a statement from Mayor Garcia.

The ports, considered the largest port complex in the U.S. generating about $398 billion in economic activity per year, have already demonstrated how emissions can be reduced even while port activity has increased, he said, noting that programs under the CAAP since 2006 have led to “dramatic emissions reductions” while trade volumes rose by about 7 percent.

“Over the last several years, we have proven that you don’t have to choose between the environment and the economy; you can improve both at the same time,” Garcia said.

Still, natural gas supporters contend that using renewable natural gas (RNG), a fuel derived from capturing methane or biogas and converting it into a clean fuel, could reduce emissions at the twin ports faster than an all-electric system using technologies that have yet to be proven or enter the marketplace.

Greg Roche, vice president of Newport Beach-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a leading provider of natural gas for transportation vehicles, told the Beachcomber in an interview that the ports should consider ways to convert more trucks and equipment to run on RNG or other alternative fuels that could reduce emissions today rather than wait for an electric system to be in place.

“Though California has come a long way in cleaning up the air, much more must be done today,” he said. “We cannot afford to wait for futuristic technologies while our communities suffer the negative effects of poor air quality. We hope that the ports will adopt a plan that takes immediate and impactful actions.”

As the ports’ truck fleet is now 10 years old from the start of the first clean truck program, the ports and state environmental regulatory agencies, such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), recognize the need to set new standards for port trucks so new technologies can enter the market and the state can achieve its goals of replacing old dirty trucks, Roche said.   

Thomas Lawson, president of the Sacramento-based California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (NGV), said current natural-gas fueled truck engines could be converted to use RNG with relatively few changes. This could reduce emissions from smog-emitting diesel fueled trucks by 90 percent in a short time, he said.

“I think we all agree that, at some point, we’d love to have a zero-emission transportation sector and more power to everyone that’s working to get there, but I don’t think that should stop us from requesting the technologies available now that are cleaner than what we have going on,” Lawson said.  

He cited a recent UC Riverside study that found heavy-duty diesel trucks could be emitting far more smog than previously thought and, therefore, are more harmful to public health than once determined. Such findings, Lawson said, create a “sense of urgency” to “get the cleanest available technology on the road as fast as possible.”

While some environmental groups criticize the use of RNG, stating that the alternative fuel still encourages use of fossil fuels, natural gas proponents argue that RNG is still a cost-effective low-carbon fuel that helps convert waste from landfills into a clean-energy source.

Roche said RNG has only entered the market for cargo trucks over the last three years, so there’s still “lack of knowledge” about the benefits. However, technological advancements have opened up new ways to capture methane, such as from dairy farms and wastewater treatment plants.  

“It’s recovering and recycling waste that would otherwise affect climate change,” he said. “We’re actually displacing fossil fuels directly and helping reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Lawson pointed out that the conversation should be about reducing emissions as quick as possible and moving from polluting diesel trucks rather than pitting one technology over another. He said technology will advance in accordance with the market and demand from customers.  

“The truth of the matter is California needs all of the alternative fuels to meet some of these goals,” Lawson said. “Technology will continue to progress in all areas, just like natural gas.”

Though President Trump has taken a harsh stance on efforts to reduce climate change federally, California will continue to set the bar for implementing new technologies and programs to reduce pollution and make transportation and port activity more sustainable, he said.  

Over the next few months, the twin ports will be soliciting comments from the public on new strategies to further reduce carbon emissions and support a statewide vision for more sustainable freight movement, according to a statement from the Port of Long Beach.

The ports are scheduled to host a public workshop on Aug. 30 at the Banning’s Landing in Wilmington to collect comments on the draft CAAP 2017 before public comment period closes on Sept. 18. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbor Commissions are expected to consider final approval in November.

sean@beachcomber.news