Environment: Boston, Long Beach, Oakland

Boston: Massport’s Conley Terminal Wins Environmental Award

Massport’s Paul W. Conley Container Terminal in the Port of Boston has received a 2015 Breathe Easy Leadership Award for significant contributions to reducing diesel emissions and promoting clean transportation. The award came from the Northeast Diesel Collaborative (NEDC) – a cooperative consisting of state environmental agencies, the regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and private sector companies whose objective is reducing diesel emissions, improving public health, and promoting clean diesel technology.

"One of our priorities is to be a good neighbor to the communities that surround Massport properties, namely Conley Container Terminal," said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. "We have a responsibility to both these communities and the environment while we support a thriving shipping terminal, and we will continue to do all we can for cleaner air now and cleaner air in the future."

In 2011, Massport received a $500,000 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grant to replace 20 older drayage trucks that routinely service Conley Terminal with trucks that met or exceeded the EPA 2007 heavy duty diesel emission standards. Massport’s Maritime Department successfully petitioned its board for an additional $1.0 million for its Clean Truck Program. The extra funding allowed the replacement of 40 more drayage trucks by trucks with cleaner diesel engines.

To date, the program has replaced the initial 20 trucks funded by the EPA’s DERA Grant, as well as 20 additional trucks funded by Massport directly. As a result, says Massport, nitrogen oxides have been cut by 28.7 tons, particulate matter by 1.4 tons, hydrocarbons by 1.2 tons, and carbon monoxide by 8.51 tons per year. The Clean Truck Program has helped Massport improve air quality in parks and neighborhoods, as well as the shipping terminal.

"Massport continues to work to make significant reductions in diesel engine-related air emissions in South Boston and to reduce the environmental impacts of operations at Conley Terminal," said Massport Acting Port Director Lisa Wieland. "The Clean Truck Program is just one example of Massport using its limited capital budget to effect reductions in air emissions in the South Boston community."

Long Beach: Port Awarded EPA Grant for Zero-Emission Tractors

The Port of Long Beach has been awarded a $1.2 million DERA grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help port tenant Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) replace diesel-fueled tractors with electric, zero-emission vehicles.

The Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant will help LBCT to buy eight cargo-handling electric-powered yard tractors for $5.4 million, replacing a matching number of diesel-powered yard tractors and reducing the associated air pollution.

The electric vehicles are components of the port’s $1.3 billion Middle Harbor project, which when opened early next year will be a virtually all-electric and zero emissions facility.

The project is expected to reduce emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 40 tons and diesel particulate matter by two tons during the lifecycle of the equipment. Vehicles are scheduled for delivery by the spring or summer of 2017.

"These vehicles will cut pollution, providing immediate health benefits to surrounding communities," said Rick Cameron, the port’s managing director of planning and environmental affairs. "They’re an important part of building our Port of the Future, and we thank the EPA for recognizing our efforts and awarding us this funding to facilitate the project for LBCT."

Port of Oakland Reaffirms Long-Term Renewable Energy Strategy

The Port of Oakland has reaffirmed a renewable energy strategy that will make 75 percent of the energy it purchases for tenants greenhouse gas-free within three years.

The strategy involves a partnership with the East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD). The port currently purchases renewable energy from EBMUD’s biogas facility and resells it to port tenants with no cost increase. All energy purchased from EBMUD is both renewable and greenhouse gas-free.

As a utility provider, the port purchases renewable energy from SunEdison and EBMUD and resells it to 125 maritime and Oakland International Airport tenants to power their operations.

Together with the port’s hydroelectric purchases, the total power portfolio provided port tenants is projected to increase from 50 percent greenhouse gas-free in 2014 to 75 percent by 2018.

The energy strategy will boost the port’s renewable energy portfolio and put it on track to meet state mandated deadlines. According to the recently signed California Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act, half of the state’s electricity supply must be derived from renewable sources by 2030.

"The Port of Oakland is always seeking innovative solutions to help our tenants reduce their greenhouse gas footprint," said Chris Chan, the port’s director of engineering. "By turning biogas into energy and then reselling it to our tenants, we are doing our part as an environmentally-conscious landlord."

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