Photos by Stephanie Perez.
Officials gathered at the Port of Long Beach (POLB) Monday to celebrate the completion of the solar generation project, which installed solar panels at Middle Harbor Terminal’s parking lots as part of an effort to minimize environmental impacts.
“When you look at this terminal, it is an amazing testament to sustainability,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “At the same time, part of that sustainability means things like parking lots, kinds of vehicles that we are using and the way that we integrate systems and freight also need to be created sustainable.”
The Port of Long Beach and Long Beach Container Terminal received the Clean Air Award for their efforts in reducing pollution in the Middle Harbor project in October.
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By switching to solar panels installed by PFMG Solar, the system is expected to avoid 1,127 tons of carbon dioxide annually–the equivalent emissions to 108 powered homes, according to the port.
Port of Long Beach Commissioner Doug Drummond said the port isn’t just the most modern and most automated, but it is also the cleanest facility in the world.
“The Port Commission stepped up to create a plan to change it all, and since then we’ve cleaned up so much,” said Drummond. “This used to be an area with thousands of trucks, ships and equipment using diesel and a difficult place for the working man to work, but now all of it is gone.”
The project also implemented Green Port Policy measures in creating sustainable practices to modernize infrastructure, upgrade terminal efficiency and productivity to meet trade demands, according to the port.
“The path of commissioning this very small piece to this very big project has been long and challenging,” said James Hankla, senior vice president of governmental relations PFMG Solar. “Along the way we saw many problems that were time-consuming, and solving those problems created the pathway for our future port projects.”
The event ended with all officials,including Garcia, flipping the switch to activate the solar electricity generated power system throughout the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT), which is in a 25-year power purchase agreement with SoCore Energy and Edison Energy.
“The decision made to install this system will not only benefit the environment, but also the community and our health.“ said Gina Heng, vice president and general manager of Mitsubishi Electric.