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View Winners → Top Posts Jun 29, 2021
Photo courtesy of @LongBeachMayor/Twitter
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia Tuesday announced a $25 million investment in zero emission vehicle infrastructure to help LA achieve its Green New Deal goals and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach meet the Clean Air Action Plan.
“The clean transportation revolution is not a distant dream for a far- off future — it’s a reality happening on our streets and at our ports right now,” Garcetti said. “Our communities on the front lines of skyrocketing temperatures and rising emissions are our top priority when it comes to climate action, and this funding will bring cleaner air to these neighborhoods and speed up our transition to zero-emissions technology.”
The funding is part of a $200 million commitment from Electrify America’s California Zero Emission Vehicle Investment Program, which is funding technology, renewable energy storage, energy management infrastructure and public charging depots.
Electrify America is a subsidiary of Volkswagen, which agreed to invest $2 billion over 10 years in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, education and access as part of an agreement with the U.S. government.
“Climate change is absolutely the greatest challenge of our generation and requires focus and investment from the public and private sector,” Garcia said. “We appreciate Electrify America’s interest in Long Beach and look forward to seeing investments in the near future.”
Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America said: “By focusing this $25 million investment on the infrastructure solutions critical to support the electrification of public transit and drayage, Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles will be true leaders in reducing tailpipe emissions through electric transportation.”
The Port of Los Angeles is working to shift to zero-emission technology, including by obtaining 100% zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030 and having 100% zero-emission trucks coming through the port by 2035.
Th Electrify America investment plan was unanimously supported by the California Air Resources Board during its board meeting on June 24.
“We cannot fight climate change and clean our air without a wholesale transformation of our transportation system, especially how we move goods and cargo throughout the state,” CARB board chair Liane Randolph said. “Electrify America’s investment in heavy-duty charging infrastructure as part of the Wilmington-Long Beach Green City project is a welcome step toward bringing zero-emission trucks and buses to these impacted communities.”
