The Port of Long Beach on Monday, Nov. 21, launched a $5 million grant program to fund local projects that will cut greenhouse gas emissions. The first workshop to assist applicants will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30, at port headquarters.
The port is encouraging local nonprofit organizations, government agencies and port tenants to apply for funds to reduce, avoid or capture emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Eligible projects would include renewable power, energy efficiency, clean transportation, tree-planting and others. Priority will be given to projects closest to the port.
The Greenhouse Gas Grant Program is the third round of port grants following programs for air quality-related projects at healthcare and senior facilities, and at schools. “With these grants, we’ll be funding a variety of projects that have been demonstrated to effectively reduce greenhouse gases,” says Dr. Robert Kanter, Port of Long Beach managing director for Environmental Affairs and Planning. “An added benefit is that all of the eligible projects will save money for the successful applicants in the long run by saving electricity or saving water.”
Applicants can seek funding for more than one project, for a total grant request of up to $1 million. To assist potential applicants, the port will hold three workshops:
• Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1:30 p.m. PT, Port of Long Beach Board Room, 925 Harbor Plaza;
• Thursday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. PT, Long Beach Neighborhood Resource Center, 425 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach; and
• Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Long Beach City Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach (motorists enter parking structure on south side of Broadway between Chestnut and Cedar avenues).
Funding for all Port Mitigation Grant Programs comes from specific port development projects. This $5 million for the Greenhouse Gas Grant Program comes from the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, which is modernizing two aging terminals into one new state-of-the-art container terminal. Grant applications and guidelines for the program and more information are available at www.polb.com/greenhousegrants; [email protected] or 888-789-4726.
