Event hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti kicks off plans to install ultra-fast charging infrastructure to support the electrification of public transit and freight trucks serving the community
Long Beach-Wilmington, CA (June 29, 2021) – Today Electrify America announced the selection of Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles as its second “Green City” investment. The company previously announced this recommendation as part of its broader plan to invest $200 million in California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and education programs in the state over the next 30 months.
The Green City investment focuses on projects with strong potential to have lasting positive impacts on the local community. The Green City plan, which received approval from the California Air Resources Board on June 24, is being recognized today at an event with local elected officials and representatives from regional transit agencies, fleet owners, environmental justice advocates, the business community and more. The celebration was hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where a significant portion of the initiative will take place.
In 2021, with a shipping mega-boom underway, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach – the busiest port complex in the nation – set a new all-time high in May of inbound containers, showcasing the importance of transportation activity in the region. Additionally, more than 18,000 trucks are registered to operate in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, showcasing a significant opportunity for tailpipe emissions reductions through electrified transportation solutions and infrastructure.
“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.”
Building on Electrify America’s first successful Green City program in Sacramento, the company will work with Long Beach and Los Angeles city officials as well as private fleet operators, owners and collaborators to implement projects focused on charging electrification for public transit and heavy-duty electric vehicles, showcasing ultra-fast charging technology, and energy management for these two emerging use cases. Efforts will focus on tackling medium and heavy-duty emissions in a predominantly disadvantaged and low-income community, which is classified as an extreme non-attainment area under the Clean Air Act (sixty-four percent of Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles is classified as low-income and disadvantaged by the California Air Resources Board.)
“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.”
The event brought together local business leaders, the environmental justice community and regional leadership to discuss the importance of reducing emissions in the region and accelerating electric mobility. Speakers included:
- Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
- Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach
- Giovanni Palazzo, President and CEO of Electrify America
- Liane Randolph, Chair, California Air Resources Board
- Yasmine Agelidis, Earth Justice
“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 Green City investment is part of Electrify America’s commitment to invest $800 million in California over ten years. Electrify America’s plan to invest $200 million between January 2022 and June 2024 – the Cycle 3 California ZEV Investment Plan – included the Green City selection process, in which Electrify America evaluated more than 14 California communities and more than 160 submissions offering input on potential ZEV initiatives. The company held virtual community meetings across California focused on local government and community-based organizations, and engaged with California’s leading academics to ensure an effective, equitable and efficient plan to significantly increase broad electric vehicle adoption in the state.
Investment in the region will begin immediately as Electrify America moves to implement its Green City plans in the region over the next three years.
Courtesy of Electrify America News