Long Beach Airport Awarded Federal Grant for Electric Vehicles and Solar Trees

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Strengthening Long Beach Airport's (LGB) commitment to environmental stewardship, LGB has been awarded a $680,851 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Zero Emissions Vehicle and Infrastructure Pilot Program to acquire six electric vehicles and two free-standing solar tree vehicle chargers.

"Long Beach Airport continues to find unique ways to integrate zero-emission technology into its operations, underscoring both LGB's and the City's commitment to sustainability and resilience," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This generous funding from the FAA is not just an investment for the present-it's ensuring a greener tomorrow."

The federal grant, paired with $72,803 in Airport revenue, will allow LGB to replace fossil-fueled vehicles with zero-emissions electric vehicles and deploy new solar tree vehicle charging stations. This strategic investment in technology was coordinated by Long Beach Airport in partnership with the City's Fleet Services Bureau, which provided cost estimates for the new equipment.

This latest project is part of an ongoing effort to reduce emissions created by operational equipment on the airfield. In 2020, for example, the Airport installed electric chargers for airline ground support equipment (GSE), resulting in the transition of two-thirds of the GSE fleet from diesel vehicles to zero emissions electric equipment.

The transaction aligns with the Long Beach Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the ultimate goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. The project is also in line with Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program efforts to reduce emissions from 2016 levels, on a per passenger basis, by 20% in 2025 and 40% in 2030, with a goal for the Airport to eventually become a carbon-neutral facility. LGB's accreditation, a commitment renewed biannually since it was first awarded in 2021, was renewed again earlier this month. Additionally, this project underscores the City's commitment to sustainable fleet operations; earlier this year, the City was recognized for its environmentally conscious and innovative fleet maintenance practices and facilities in 2023.

"Long Beach Airport is deeply committed to reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the sustainability of our operations," said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. "We are grateful for this FAA support to help us take another important step in our journey toward net-zero emissions."

Situated at a central position between Los Angeles and Orange counties, Long Beach Airport provides a distinctively stress-free journey and a first-class customer experience. Air carriers currently offer service to 24 nonstop destinations around the nation, which is more nonstop service than at any time in LGB's 100-year history.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about Long Beach Airport is available at lgb.org and on Facebook, Instagram and X @LGBAirport.

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