Mayor Bass, Sen. Barragán Secure Record Federal Funds for Greener LA Port

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Oct. 29 announced $412 million in secured federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA clean ports program, which will support efforts to reduce emissions and create a new community-led zero-emission grant program. This is the single largest funding amount that the Port of Los Angeles has ever received. 

“Thank you, Administrator Regan, for your support of our vision of a zero-emission future,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “With this funding, the nation’s busiest port will be able to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Together, in partnership with the federal government, industry, labor, and environmental justice groups, we are building a greener and healthier Los Angeles. L.A. will continue to lead on innovative infrastructure and sustainability.” 

This announcement follows active advocacy by Mayor Bass and the mayor’s office of energy and sustainability. In March of this year, Mayor Bass hosted Administrator Regan in San Pedro and highlighted future investment opportunities to support the Port and Los Angeles. The Administrator has visited Los Angeles twice this year, signaling strong federal support for efforts to build a greener Los Angeles.

“This grant is a game-changer for the Port of LA and our port communities,” said U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán. “Today’s funding announcement is the direct result of a five-year effort by my office to work with labor, environmental justice groups, industry, and ports, to secure billions of dollars to clean up ports across the country. It will help the Port of LA and ports across the country transition to zero-emission, human operated equipment. This investment will significantly reduce pollution from ports and help our nearby port communities breathe cleaner air.”

Rep. Nannette Barragán’s office in a press release stated, “The grant, made possible by Congresswoman Barragán’s Climate Smart Ports Act, whose funding was included in the Inflation Reduction Act, will reduce air pollution and improve public health by helping the port transition to 100% zero-emissions terminal operations by 2030. In addition to the federal grant, POLA and its partners will also match $200 million for the project, totaling over $600 million to meet their clean air goals.

In line with the Climate Smart Ports Act, which was supported by the ILWU and several community-based organizations, the funds must be used for human-operated equipment and technology.

This grant will allow POLA to meet ZE goals by:

• funding the acquisition of approximately 400 pieces of ZE CHE and associated charging infrastructure to replace nearly 30% of POLA’s diesel-burning CHE fleet;
• procuring 250 ZE drayage trucks and associated charging infrastructure;
• installing cutting-edge power management systems with solar generation and battery
• providing energy storage capacity to power additional ZE CHE;
• establishing one of the first shore-power support systems for auto carrier vessels to; and
• eliminating nearly 41,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 55 tons of NOx emissions annually.”

Rep. Barragán led a California Delegation letter of 19 members in support of the EPA grant.

“With this federal investment, we’re taking a huge, transformative step toward a cleaner, healthier future for the residents of the Harbor area,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. The communities surrounding the Port of Los Angeles have been on the frontlines of pollution for far too long, and this funding brings resources to drive us toward a future where our goals of a zero-emission Port are attainable. This vital support not only advances our environmental goals but should also protect, strengthen, and sustain the good jobs at the Port. Together, we will demand both environmental justice and the protection of good jobs as we prioritize investments that bring the greatest benefits to our surrounding neighborhoods.”

How Los Angeles Will Benefit:

In support of its goal to achieve 100% zero-emission terminal operations by 2030, this funding will enable the port to purchase zero-emission yard tractors, drayage trucks, top handlers, heavy forklifts, battery electric storage systems, chargers, and more.

The grant will also set a new standard for environmental stewardship in the maritime industry by directly funding an innovative, community-led $50 million ZE grant program in partnership with the Harbor Community Benefits Foundation, prioritizing investments that benefit frontline, disadvantaged areas. Investments will be identified through a community-led outreach and selection process that prioritizes projects having the greatest emission reductions and impact on neighborhoods surrounding the port.