Mayor Garcetti celebrates $25 million investment for zero emission transportation infrastructure and technology

 
07/10/2021

Mayor Eric Garcetti today celebrated a $25 million investment in the Wilmington and City of Long Beach area for Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure to help meet the zero emission transportation targets laid out in his Green New Deal and the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP).

“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,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “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 $25 million grant, which comes from a $200 million commitment from Electrify America’s California ZEV Investment program, will help fund fast-charging technology, renewable energy storage, energy management infrastructure, and public charging depots.  

“Climate change is absolutely the greatest challenge of our generation and requires focus and investment from the public and private sector,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “We appreciate Electrify America’s interest in Long Beach and look forward to seeing investments in the near future.”

As part of an agreement with the United States government, Volkswagen agreed to invest $2 billion over 10 years in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education, and access. Through their subsidiary, Electrify America, the company is investing $800 million in California over ten years.

“Today we are proud to celebrate an important milestone in continuing to support a cleaner, healthier and more equitable future for the region,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer of Electrify America. “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 investment plan was heard and received unanimous support by the California Air Resources Board at their June 24th Board Meeting.

“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,” said California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph. “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.”

The San Pedro Bay Ports, the nation’s busiest port complex, currently serves a fleet of more than 18,000 drayage trucks. The shift to zero-emission technologies at the Port is a result of Los Angeles’ bold commitments in the Clean Air Action Plan, including a pledge to obtain 100% zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030 and see 100% zero-emission trucks coming into and out of the port by 2035. 

“The time is now to build zero-emission cities,” said Yasmine Agelidis, associate attorney at Earthjustice. “Earthjustice is pleased the California Air Resources Board approved Electrify America’s investment in electrifying buses and trucks in West Long Beach and Wilmington, which is an incredible community to lead in this zero emissions vision. If we’re going to clean our air, safeguard our lungs, and protect our climate, the future has got to be electric.”

SOURCE: https://www.lamayor.org/mayor-garcetti-celebrates-25-million-investment-zero-emission-transportation-infrastructure-and



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