Port of Long Beach, state officials laud progress on $383 million investment

California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin visited the Port of Long Beach to see how a record-setting state grant from California’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program is being put into action to support more than 22,000 jobs, reduce emissions and build a modern, sustainable supply chain at one of America’s busiest ports.

Omishakin, along with officials from the Port, state and ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94 gathered at SSA Terminals’ Pier C facility, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson, to celebrate the acquisition of 15 zero-emission, human-operated, American-made yard tractors, associated charging infrastructure and a tugboat repowered to a low-emission engine. The equipment was acquired with help from the Port of Long Beach’s System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport, or SWIFT program.

SWIFT is funded by CalSTA’s historic, $1.3 billion Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP), championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and approved by the state Legislature in response to pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. In 2023, the Port received a record $383 million in PFIP grant funding to supercharge multiple zero-emissions projects. The PFIP grant also included more than $158 million to advance the Port’s rail support facility at Pier B, which will shift more cargo from trucks to on-dock rail.

In addition to creating 22,000 jobs, the funding will advance projects eliminating more than 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5% of nitrogen oxide emissions associated with Port-related operations annually by 2028.

“Governor Newsom’s historic commitment to freight infrastructure is strengthening our supply chains and creating economic opportunities for people across the state,” said Omishakin. “The progress seen at the Port of Long Beach is an incredible example of what’s possible when we make intentional investments in our infrastructure."

“Cleaner and new equipment at our ports means less pollution, more jobs, and a better quality of life for our communities,” said State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. “Thank you to Governor Newsom, CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin, the Port of Long Beach, and all partners for helping us move toward a healthier and stronger economic future for California.”

“This historic investment shows what's possible when California commits to strengthening our supply chain while protecting the communities that keep it moving,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. “These projects are creating good union jobs, accelerating the transition to zero-emission operations and ensuring the Port of Long Beach remains the gold standard for innovation and sustainability. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding and will continue fighting for investments that benefit our workers, our economy and our environment.”

“The equipment we're celebrating today will reduce emissions, result in improved health for local neighborhoods and ensure our city's port builds on its place as global sustainability leader,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are thankful to our state leaders for their commitment to innovation and investment in California's ports, which are key drivers of economic output and job creation here and across the country.”

“The Port of Long Beach is using financial incentives and leveraging grant funding to accelerate our transition to zero-emissions operations,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “These efforts are amplified by the PFIP program, and we are grateful to Secretary Omishakin for CalSTA's support for this important work and the leadership of Governor Newsom and the state Legislature.”

“The Port of the Future will be faster, more efficient and cleaner and will require strong partnerships and significant financial investment,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “Thanks to the state's commitment to a more sustainable supply chain and support from partners like SSA Terminals, Matson and the ILWU, the Port of Long Beach is accelerating our path to becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port.”

“SSA Marine is committed to environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and environmental innovation across our operations,” said Nicolas Gauthier, President of SSA Marine’s Global Container Division. “We are proud to partner with the Port of Long Beach and the State of California on this deployment of 15 zero-emission yard tractors, and we look forward to transitioning additional zero-emission cargo handling equipment at the port in the future.”

“The thousands of men and women from the ILWU are the lifeblood of the ports and come to work every day to make sure people get their goods safely and efficiently,” said International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13 President Mario Medina. “We thank the Port of Long Beach and State of California for their partnership and for helping fund new human-operated cargo-handling equipment and other zero-emission infrastructure through the PFIP program.”

More than $200 million in PFIP funding funneled through SWIFT is being used for human-operated, zero-emission cargo-handling equipment, charging infrastructure, low-emission harbor craft and shore power expansions. The new, battery-electric, human-operated yard tractors at Pier C were made by Orange EV in Kansas City, Kansas. The vehicles are part of $37.8 million in awards for zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment at Pier C under the SWIFT program. Next year, SSA Terminals is expected to add nine battery electric top handlers and associated infrastructure at Pier C as part of an additional $28.8 million project.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners authorized $58.2 million in additional SWIFT funding to purchase additional zero-emissions human-operated cargo-handling equipment, cleaner harbor craft and a zero-emissions locomotive.

The award will allow tenants and operators to acquire 61 zero-emissions human-operated cargo-handling equipment units along with 21 charging units, deploy six zero-emissions harbor craft and five cleaner harbor craft that displace older diesel engines, and advance one zero-emissions locomotive. The Port of Long Beach – with 21% of its cargo-handling fleet zero-emissions, has one of the largest such fleets in the nation.