This summer, South Coast AQMD and the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles strengthened their commitment to cleaner goods movement with an addendum to the landmark Cooperative Agreement approved by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board.
The addendum, approved during the August 7 Governing Board meeting and fully executed by all parties on September 10, adds three new actions, including new incentives for cleaner ships and zero-emission trucks and a $40 million investment in regional charging infrastructure designed to accelerate emissions reductions from port-related operations.
Under the Enhanced Clean Ship Incentive Program, the Ports will revise their incentive program to help attract cleaner ocean-going vessels calling to the ports. The Zero-Emission Truck Utilization Incentive Program will provide new incentives for zero-emission truck visits at the Ports.
The Ports will also each contribute $20 million toward regional charging and fueling infrastructure for zero-emission drayage trucks. South Coast AQMD will manage project selection, funding and implementation of the program in consultation with the Ports.
The original Cooperative Agreement, signed and executed in December 2025, established a framework for advancing zero-emission infrastructure and technologies for cargo handling equipment, harbor craft, trucks, trains and ocean-going vessels.
Similar to the original agreement, the addendum includes enforceable deadlines and financial consequences if milestones are not met. It also requires public transparency through public review of new programs, public meetings, annual reporting and program evaluations.
Beyond the Cooperative Agreement, the Ports and South Coast AQMD will continue working together to address port emissions, including evaluating cleaner marine fuels, developing a Clean Marine Fuel Pilot Project, studying nearshore vessel emissions, planning future use of clean truck funds, and projecting deployment of zero-emission terminal equipment.
To learn more about the Ports Cooperative Agreement, visit aqmd.gov/portsagreement.