The Port of Long Beach has planned a public meeting Thursday, May 6, to discuss plans by the Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles and regional air quality authorities to apply for statewide transportation grants to reduce air pollution. The meeting will be held 11 a.m. to noon at the Port of Long Beach Administration Building, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach.
The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are planning to apply for some of the $200 million being made available by the California Air Resources Board in the latest round of these grants. The ports want to use the funds to equip wharfs with “shore power,” which allows ships to shut down their diesel engines at berth and plug in for electricity.
The funds come from the statewide Proposition 1B, the $1 billion highway safety, traffic reduction, air quality, and port security ballot measure approved by voters in November 2006. At the meeting, the ports and the SCAQMD will provide a brief presentation on Proposition 1B guidelines and will then welcome public testimony. The public is welcome to comment on the ports’ proposal or other possibilities such as cleaner harbor craft, cargo-handling equipment, locomotives and trucks.
