The City Council this week requested staffers develop a holistic plan and approach that identifies new grant funding opportunities, proactively preps for the future fleet turnover, incentivizes the creation of good paying union jobs, and gets ready for long-term charging infrastructure, among other recommendations.
Long Beach has already made strides in reducing the city’s greenhouse gas footprint and helping ensure the community is better protected from the impacts of climate change, according to a staff report.
In 2022, the city adopted its Long Beach Climate Action Plan, which provides a comprehensive framework for developing policies, programs and incentives. The plan calls for reducing emissions from city operations, including its vehicle fleets, by replacing fossil fuel-fueled vehicles with electric ones when feasible.
Currently, Long Beach Transit has battery-electric buses and near-zero emission compressed natural gas buses, while the Port of Long Beach has battery-electric vehicles. Both agencies have goals of having a zero-emission fleet by 2030.
Long Beach is committed to leading the nation on sustainability and environmental justice, officials said, and creating good-paying union jobs for communities to thrive.
“As we’ve seen so clearly with the devastation caused by climate change with the fires and flooding, we see it’s important that we continue to address the biggest threat facing our generation,” Mayor Rex Richardson said, “and continue to show climate leadership here.”
Refuse trucks are some of the most common and polluting heavy-duty vehicles, said Councilmember Cindy Allen, who is the newly appointed chair of the Climate, Environment and Coastal Protection Committee.
The California Air Resources Board and other agencies have determined that trash trucks are prime for electrification, given that their stop-and-go operations fit the optimal duty cycle for electric vehicles, according to the staff report.
Long Beach’s existing plan includes electrification of more than 410 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, with 100% electric purchases by 2027, contingent upon technology availability within the fleet of vehicles, Allen said.
“Battery electric vehicles produce zero emission, which significantly reduces air pollution and benefits Long Beach residents,” Allen added, “particularly those in disadvantaged communities.”
The City Council recommended during its Tuesday, Feb. 11, meeting strategies and actions for staffers to look into helping accelerate the pace of the city’s zero-emission fleet transition, such as by identifying public funding opportunities – although it might be difficult under the new federal administration, officials said.
City staffers will also examine the fiscal impact of exclusive franchise agreements with waste haulers committed to zero-emissions fleets, and looking into the initial cost of infrastructure needed to support a transition to zero-emissions fleets and the ultimate costs of buying the vehicles.
The city will also revisit its Zero-Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Policy to further clarify that the policy should apply to purchasing and operating battery-electric vehicles to replace all conventionally fueled light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, according to the staff report.
Officials said they hope this acceleration will also incentivize the creation of union jobs across multiple industries.
Staffers will also be in discussion with Southern California Edison to secure its support and commitment around deploying and expanding the charging infrastructure necessary to accommodate the energy demands of heavy-duty vehicle charging stations.
The council also asked the city attorney to draft a resolution indicating Long Beach’s position toward prioritizing future exclusive franchise agreements with trash haulers that commit to a 100% zero-emission refuse fleet by 2032.
“By this action, I’m hoping that we can research and look into not only refuse vehicles but tow trucks as well, and into other heavy-duty equipment that would be compatible with alternative fuel or zero-emission,” Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga said. “It’s a new world and this is the right direction to head.”
City staffers will report back to the council with recommendations in 90 days on the progress of these efforts.
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