Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 22, The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a cooperative agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the Port of Long Beach to accelerate the transition to zero-emission operations at both ports. The agreement addresses all major emission sources, including cargo-handling equipment, harbor craft, drayage trucks, locomotives, and ocean-going vessels.

Mayor Karen Bass said: “The passage of the Cooperative Agreement is just one way we are continuing our historic efforts to create a cleaner, more sustainable city, including the Port of Los Angeles. By working together with our partners at South Coast AQMD and the Port of Long Beach we will continue to build upon this moment, achieving our shared goal of cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more climate resilient future for all.”

Los Angeles City Council member and South Coast AQMD Board Member Nithya Raman stated: “This Cooperative Agreement represents an important step toward creating clean, breathable air for our local communities and I am committed to making sure we hold ourselves accountable to the proposals set forth. Continuing a decade of inaction on this issue is simply not an option, and I am grateful to everyone who participated in the conversation to move this zero-emission legislation forward.”

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said: “We look forward to this new era of collaboration between our ports and the South Coast AQMD as we work together toward a zero-emission future. This action represents a balanced, results-driven approach to developing the infrastructure necessary to continue reducing emissions at the San Pedro Bay ports.”

The three-phase plan requires draft zero-emission infrastructure strategies by May 2027 and fully approved plans covering all emission categories by the end of 2029. Progress will be monitored through annual reports to the South Coast AQMD Governing Board, with noncompliance penalties ranging from US$50,000 to US$200,000 per instance, directed toward community-benefit projects.

The agreement builds on the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan launched in 2006. Since then, the Port of Los Angeles has achieved reductions of 90 per cent in diesel particulate matter, 98 per cent in sulfur oxides, and 73 per cent in nitrogen oxides. Container-related emissions have fallen 93 per cent, 99 per cent, and 81 per cent respectively for these pollutants.

Both ports will continue expanding Clean Air Action Plan measures, with additional initiatives targeting ocean-going vessels – the largest remaining emission source – scheduled for review in spring 2026. The new cooperative framework strengthens coordination and accountability in delivering comprehensive zero-emission infrastructure across the San Pedro Bay port complex.