Wired for the future: Port of San Diego secures $5M to supercharge zero-emission projects

The Port of San Diego has won a staggering $5 million grant from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (San Diego APCD) via the latter’s Clean Air for All program aimed at slashing emissions and promoting environmental justice in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

According to the Port of San Diego, the grant has been set aside to go toward electrical upgrades at its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal to support additional electric cargo handling equipment and, by extension, to bring to fruition the related goals in the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS), which was adopted in October 2021.

It is understood that the grant will require a $6,009,232 match from the port, which will be allocated from the approximately $59 million that was awarded to the port by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in October 2024 through the agency’s Clean Ports Program. The grant and matching funds will thus bring the project total to more than $11 million.

The Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Project encompasses upgrading the port’s existing 12kV system to support battery-electric cargo handling equipment, including forklifts capable of lifting between 15,000 lbs. (6,803.9 kg) and 50,000 lbs. (22,680 kg), Class 8 off-road battery-electric yard trucks, and a top handler with DC fast chargers ranging up to 350 kW.

The upgrades reportedly also involve improvements to the supporting substation infrastructure, including the design, construction, and installation of components like transformers, load interrupters, switchgear, switchboards, conductors, and concrete pads.

Acting as an update to the Port’s 2007 Clean Air Program, MCAS was greenlit as part of efforts to help the Port of San Diego identify future projects and initiatives to improve environmental and public health through cleaner air for all who live, work and play around San Diego Bay while supporting ‘efficient’ and sustainable maritime operations.

As disclosed, it identified long-term goals for 2030 with near-term emissions reduction targets and objectives to be accomplished by June 30, 2026, with some extended to 2030: 100% zero-emission cargo trucks at Port terminals by 2030, 40% zero-emission cargo trucks by June 2026, launching the first all-electric tugboat in the US by June 2026, and 100% zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030.

Moreover, MCAS is considered the ‘most ambitious’ clean air strategy policy of its kind in the Golden State and – if achieved – it could represent emission cuts beyond California’s current regulations and policies.

“Since adopting the MCAS in 2021, we’ve implemented 66% of our goals and, with our partners, have committed approximately $125 million so far in maritime operations electrification to improve public health and air quality in our portside communities,” Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, highlighted.

“With grants like this one from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, we are leading the charge for all ports in California to show that we can be community and environmental champions while also supporting and driving our economy with efficient maritime operations,” Moore added.

Shedding further light on the most recent development, Paula Forbis, Air Pollution Control Officer for the San Diego County APCD, remarked: “The Port of San Diego has made great strides towards their commitment to improve air quality for the Portside Communities, and their continued progress towards clean air strategies has made them a great community partner. This project will lay the foundation to support future electric equipment at the Port, thus promoting the Portside Community Emissions Reduction Plan and our vision of Clean Air for All.”

In February 2024, the EPA unveiled two separate funding opportunities for American ports: the Zero-Emission (ZE) Technology Deployment Competition which directly funds ZE equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source pollution, and the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition.

The grants—totaling a whopping $3 billion awarded to 55 applicants across 27 states—were funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, with estimates that this could help eliminate more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution.

The winners included the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of San Diego, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the Port of Houston Authority in Texas, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), among others.

The Port announced it would allocate the awarded funding for its San Diego Clean Cargo project intended for further electrifying operations at the port’s two maritime cargo terminals and supporting ZE freight movement.

An additional $28 million was collected for the Clean Cargo initiative by the port, the San Diego APCD, Dole, PASHA, Skycharger, and SSA Marine, bringing the funding total to $86 million. The timeline for this particular endeavor’s completion is anticipated for 2028.

In related news, in January this year, the San Diego Port formally swore in its 2025 Board of Port Commissioners officers. For the ‘first time’ in its history, the port selected women as its Chair and Vice Chair, i.e. Danielle Moore and Ann Moore, with the former being a San Diego and the latter a Chula Vista appointee. Michael Zucchet, a second San Diego appointee, is set to act as secretary.

In an address, Moore shared her vision centered on community-driven progress, sustainability, and innovation, stating: “From electrification efforts to environmental justice, the Port’s work is deeply rooted in service to the community – a mission that resonates with me as someone who has always valued the intersection of progress and people. I believe our greatest achievements are realized when we place people at the center of our efforts.”

Moore’s upcoming endeavors comprise – but are not limited to – improving the B Street Pier cruise ship terminal, pushing forward a proposed zero-emissions truck stop in National City as well as ensuring more shore power for cargo vessels.

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