Nine gantry cranes at the Port of Long Beach will become fully electric thanks to a new pilot program intended to reduce pollution at the nation’s second busiest port.



Ronald O. Nichols is president of Southern California Edison (SCE) speaking during a press conference at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero speaking during a press conference at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

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Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum speaking during a press conference at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

Justin Ramirez reads a chart explaining the Electric Drayage Class B Truck at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG



Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum speaking during a press conference at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

The crowd applauds the launch of the zero emissions port project at the SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

Duane L. Kenagy interim deputy executive director, Port of Long Beach, looks at a hybrid truck at The SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

The crowd gathers at the launch of the zero emissions port project at the SSA Terminal, in the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. The Port of Long Beach received a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate zero-emissions cargo handling equipment. This project is moving forward, replacing rubber-tired gantry crane systems with fully electric systems and 25 zero or near zero emissions vehicles. Long Beach April 4, 2018. Photo by Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG

The project also includes purchasing 12 batter-electric yard tractors, and converting four LNG trucks into plug-in hybrid-electric yard tractors, officials said.

Partners, including Southern California Edison, officially launched the project Wednesday at the port’s Pier J. The project, funded by a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission, will bring 25 vehicles that are zero- or near zero-emissions to marine terminals for one year to test their performance, officials said in a prepared statement.

“This project is another example of the goods movement industry, equipment builders, utilities and public agencies stepping up to reach for the goal of zero emissions,” Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach executive director, said in a written statement. “Today, you can see how everyone is coming together to meet that challenge.”

The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 1,323 tons and smog-causing nitrogen oxides by 27 tons each year, officials said. The new equipment is also expected to save more than 270,000 gallons of diesel fuel.