Friday, September 21, 2018

CARB Gives Port of Los Angeles $41 Million

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Los Angeles has been given $41 million from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) toward its Zero-Emission and Near Zero-Emission Freight Facilities project.

Supported by Toyota, Kenworth, and Shell, the project will help significantly lower emissions by creating a massive “shore to store” plan and a hydrogen fuel-cell-electric technology framework for freight facilities. The initial phase of the project will cost nearly $82.6 million, with partners matching about half the funding. “The Port of Los Angeles is showing the world that we don’t need to choose between environmental stewardship and economic growth – and this funding will help put zero emissions goods movement within our reach,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I am grateful to CARB for this investment in America’s port, as we continue to lead the drive toward a more sustainable future.”

According to the Port of Los Angeles, the project will feature 10 new zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell-electric Class 8 on-road trucks on the Kenworth T680 platform to be developed by Kenworth and Toyota; two new large capacity heavy-duty hydrogen fueling stations to be developed by Shell in Wilmington and Ontario, and the expanded use of zero-emissions technology in off-road and warehouse equipment, including two zero-emissions yard tractors at the Port of Hueneme and zero-emissions forklifts at Toyota’s port warehouse.

“This matching grant from CARB’s California Climate Investments program is critically needed funding support to develop and commercialize the next generation of clean port equipment and drayage truck, as well as the infrastructure to support it,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This grant funds a public-private collaboration that is representative of our commitment to being a ‘market maker’ through collaborative technology and fuel infrastructure development with industry leaders like Toyota, Kenworth and Shell.”

Bill Passage Funds Coos Bay Infrastructure

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay will receive close to $7 million toward maintaining the federal navigation channel and related infrastructure in the Coos Bay Harbor, thanks to the recent passage of HR 5895.

The port praised the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member and Congressman Peter DeFazio, who has been advocating for the port’s multimodal infrastructure and the state’s transportation systems.

“Maintaining our maritime assets is crucial in retaining and promoting international trade in southwestern Oregon,” according to the port’s website. “The forestry industry in our port district supports thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, meaning that the international trade through the maritime terminals in our harbor is critical in sustaining the local economy. Through his efforts on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman DeFazio is ensuring existing and future businesses in Oregon can thrive.”

Port of Everett to Sell Waterfront Site

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Everett Commission has agreed to sell a 13 acre-property on the Snohomish River in north Everett to Latitude Development, LLC.

The agreement includes a series of conditions that could delay the closing date by more than a year. To close the sale, the purchaser must first secure a high-quality tenant who will provide at least 10 jobs per acre.

As part of the agreement, the port will include land segregation (reserving the shoreline portions for the port), fix FEMA flood plain maps that incorrectly show portions of the site underwater, and seek a shoreline permit on the site’s master plan in conjunction with Latitude.

“Latitude Development, LLC appreciates the ports acceptance [of] our offer to purchase the Bay Wood Site,” Latitude Development Principal Dave Kessler said. “We are very excited for the opportunity to partner again with the port to bring jobs and businesses to the Everett Community.”

Port of Everett Acting CEO Lisa Lefeber praised the company.“Latitude has been a wonderful partner at the Riverside Business Park and has delivered on its commitment to the Port to create light-industrial, family wage jobs to support our community.”

“Bay Wood was the first property, along with Jetty Island, that the port bought when it was established as a Port District in 1918, so it is bitter-sweet that we are selling it during our Centennial year,” she added. “But the port’s priority is to transform underutilized, contaminated sites back into job creation centers and tax generators, and this sale will do just that.”

Olympia Seeks Community Input

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Olympia is inviting the community to weigh in on how the port should look and how it should function in the next 30 years.

The port has put out a survey as part of its Port Olympia Vision 2050, which will help guide the port in prioritizing what matters to its community.

As the port launched the survey last week it posted on its website, “The Port has been an integral part of community development in Thurston County for nearly a century. We understand our success is tied to our ability to implement defined community priorities. So, please share what matters most to you, and think big!” The survey period ends on October 31.

Please visit https://www.portolympia2050.org to take the survey or find out more information.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Everett Improvements Move Forward

By Karen Robes Meeks

The third phase of the Central Marina Improvements project at the Port of Everett moved forward last week. The commission awarded a nearly $6.5 million building contract to American Construction Company, Inc.

According to the port, the work, which is expected to get underway next month and be completed by May 2019, will include: deepening the eastern portion of the Central Marina, building a new Guest Dock 5 and activity float at Fisherman’s Harbor, erecting a new K-Dock to serve yacht-class vessels and a L-dock for the commercial fishing fleet with floats from current P-Dock.

Awarding the contract was a major milestone for the port. “The elements of this project are critical for implementing the Port’s vision of a mixed-use waterfront that creates synergies between the upland properties and the marina,” said Port Commission President Glen Bachman.

The Port’s Acting CEO Lisa Lefeber commended the port staff for its work in navigating the many challenges that culminated in this approval.

“From developing a process for new marina permitting dredging, to unforeseen permitting hiccups, to new dock designs… this project has had them all,” she said. “I want to recognize our Environmental Director Erik Gerking for leading the regulatory process to secure our marina dredging permit, our Permitting Specialist Laura Gurley for leading the effort with the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Project Manager Brandon Whitaker for pulling all the pieces together.”

San Pedro Bay CAAP Meeting Rescheduled

By Karen Robes Meeks

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have rescheduled the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) 2017 Update progress meeting to September 26 in Long Beach, California.

Originally set for a week earlier, the meeting will provide the public with the latest progress report on the CAAP Update – a blueprint first enacted in 2005 for curbing port-related pollution through various initiatives and strategies.

Those initiatives, which have included the Clean Truck Program, technology demonstrations alternative fueling and vessel slowing efforts, have resulted in significant reductions in emissions.

The upcoming meeting is open to the public and will take place from 9 to 11 a.m., in the 1st Floor Training Room at the Port of Long Beach Interim Administrative Offices, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, California, 90815.

Visit www.cleanairactionplan.org for more information.

Coos Bay Prioritizes Infrastructure

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is making steady progress in pushing sustainable development while improving the state’s economy, according to the port’s recently published 2017/18 Annual Report.

The report looks at the port’s accomplishments and operational efforts for the last fiscal year. It touts the Coos Bay Rail Line as an advantage for regional shippers for sending goods domestically and overseas in a sustainable way, and the port’s location and full multi-modal transportation system as fertile for maritime development in the future.

The report also says that the port – through its various completed and in-progress projects – has been prioritizing the development of infrastructure and rehabilitation of its multi-modal transportation network.

“Infrastructure plays an enormous role in port operations,” said Port Commission President Dave Kronsteiner. “We are the stewards of a multi-modal transportation network including the Charleston Marina, the Coos Bay Rail Line and the Coos Bay harbor navigation channel.”

Visit https://www.oipcbannualreport18.com for a copy of the full report.

Oakland Emissions Down

By Karen Robes Meeks

Recent results have showed that diesel particulate emissions at the Port of Oakland have fallen 81 percent since 2005, a sign that the port could meet its self-imposed target of lowering emissions by 85 percent by 2020.

“We continue to make progress toward the goal we have set,” said Port of Oakland Environmental Programs and Planning Director Richard Sinkoff. “With cooperation from our partners in the cargo-moving business we firmly believe we’ll fulfill our commitment to cleaner air in Oakland and in our region.”

Results published in a 100-page emissions inventory of 2017 port activity point to a five percent decrease in seaport emissions in the last two years, thanks in part to a port program that called for newer, cleaner trucks, mandates requiring vessels to burn cleaner fuel and plug into shoreline power as well as fewer ships and trucks visits.

This comes as the port updates its new clean air plan, which is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.