Natural gas vehicles exempted from Clean Truck Fund Rate by port

Natural gas vehicles exempted from Clean Truck Fund Rate by port

The Port of Long Beach is exempting natural gas vehicles from its Clean Truck Fund Rate.

The Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the exemption, describing it “as a transitional step to a future when zero-emissions cargo trucks are widely available”.

Natural gas trucks are lower emitters of nitrogen oxides, a building block of smog, and provide a step toward cleaner air as the Port strives for the goals of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.

In considering a rate to encourage the trucking industry to invest in cleaner vehicles and reach zero-emissions for cargo trucking by 2035, the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles have set a rate of $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit – a standard measure for one 20-foot-long cargo container. 

It had already been determined that zero-emissions trucks would be exempt from the future rate. This action is designed to encourage the industry to make an interim step while zero-emissions technology catches up.

Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero said: “These trucks will emit 90 percent less nitrogen oxides than equivalent vehicles today. The question we were asking ourselves was do we reduce emissions now or do we wait for tomorrow? For our community, and our commitment to the Clean Air Action Plan, the answer is now.”

Commission president Frank Colonna added: “The Port of Long Beach is the Green Port, a trailblazer in sustainable goods movement. We remain confident that we can encourage the use of cleaner natural gas trucks now, and also nurture the technology that will allow us to meet our goal of a zero-emissions drayage truck fleet by 2035. To get there, we must start the journey.”

For more information visit www.polb.com

1st June 2021