The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced up to $205 million in grants for projects designed to accelerate the adoption of clean freight technologies and reduce air pollution caused by the movement of goods throughout the state. All projects, from electric locomotives to zero-emission (hydrogen fuel cell and biomethane) vehicles, are located within disadvantaged communities that are heavily impacted by air pollution from freight facilities.
Eleven projects will receive $150 million from California Climate Investments – using proceeds from the state’s landmark Cap-and-Trade program – and other sources, with another $55 million to be considered by the Board at its October meeting. The grants will be matched by $210 million invested by private and public partners, bringing total investment to more than $400 million.
“California is again leading the world, showing what can be done when government and the private sector combine forces to drive technology and innovation,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “The implications for the future are clear. Businesses will benefit by lowering their operational costs, and because all these projects are located in disadvantaged communities, residents who have long suffered the impacts of pollution will benefit by having cleaner air to breathe.”
The goal of CARB’s Zero and Near Zero Emission Freight Facility program is to support transformative, cost-effective clean technologies that can be adopted by other freight facilities and accelerate the commercialization of these technologies statewide. The projects will reduce pollution that contributes to regional air quality problems, particularly diesel particulate emissions that impact communities located near ports, rail yards and warehouses.
Some of the projects:
Frito Lay Transformative Zero and Near-Zero Emission Freight Facility Project: The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVACP) also will receive $15.4 million to help replace all diesel-powered equipment at Frito-Lay in Modesto, including deployment of 15 heavy-duty Tesla battery electric tractors, 38 low NOx trucks fueled with renewable natural gas.
Next Generation Fuel Cell Delivery Van Deployment: The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) will receive $5.4 million to deploy four fuel cell delivery vans for UPS for a minimum 12-month demonstration project in Chino. Partner match: $5.8 million.
Zero Emissions for California Ports: The Gas Technology Institute will receive $8 million to demonstrate two fuel cell yard trucks at the Port of Los Angeles. Partner match: $6.3 million.
Zero-Emission Freight “Shore to Store” Project: The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) will receive $41.1 million to deploy ten Kenworth and Toyota fuel cell Class 8 trucks, build two new large-capacity hydrogen fueling stations in Wilmington and Ontario, and deploy two electric yard tractors at the Port of Hueneme and two zero-emission forklifts at Toyota’s POLA warehouse. Partner match: $41.4 million.
Fuel Cell Delivery Van Deployment: The Center for Transportation and the Environment will receive $4.3 million to expand a project with UPS in Ontario that will yield 15 new zero-emission vehicles. Partner match: $5.2 million.
Source: CARB
