Pier a Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project Receives Permit

A major milestone in port electrification unfolded at the Port of Long Beach as the Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project secured Harbor Development Permit No. 26-004, paving the way for a large-scale rollout of electric charging infrastructure at the SSA Marine Terminal at Pier A. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) notice documents the approval and outlines the project’s scope, including a plan for 166 electric vehicle charging stations and comprehensive electrical upgrades to support zero-emission cargo-handling equipment. This development comes amid broader efforts to decarbonize U.S. ports and accelerate the adoption of electric yard equipment, with implications for supply chains, air quality, and regional climate goals. Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project is a concrete step within POLB’s broader electrification strategy and aligns with ongoing Clean Ports initiatives across Southern California. [CEQANET Notice of Exemption, Pier A ZEI Project] (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project received Harbor Development Permit No. 26-004 on May 27, 2026, according to the California Environmental Quality Act Notice of Exemption filed by the Port of Long Beach. The permit’s posting confirms formal authorization for the electrical upgrades and the construction of cargo-handling lots designed to house EV charging infrastructure at Pier A. This central fact—dated and sourced from the official CEQA notice and the harbor commission record—anchors the current reporting on the project. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

What Happened

Permit announcement and location

• The Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project is located at the SSA Marine Terminal at Pier A in the Port of Long Beach, with the project site specified as 700 Pier A Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90813. The harbor planning and permit documents confirm the project area and the leadership responsible for the approval process. The California CEQA notice identifies the document as Harbor Development Permit No. 26-004 and lists the Port of Long Beach as the public agency of record. The location and permit identifiers anchor the formal approval and the scope of subsequent work. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Scope of infrastructure and charging capabilities

• The project encompasses electrical improvements and the construction of cargo-handling lots with electric vehicle charging stations designed to support zero-emission operations. The CEQA notice specifies a total of 166 electric vehicle charging stations, with a breakdown of 56 Level 2 single- and dual-dispenser chargers and 104 Level 3 dual-dispenser chargers, plus six light-duty forklift chargers. The installation aims to enable deployment of human-operated, zero-emission cargo-handling equipment such as utility tractors, top handlers, forklifts, electric rubber-tired gantry cranes (eRTGs), and on-terminal vehicles used in cargo operations, administration, security, and maintenance. The document also notes that the charging infrastructure will be paired with the associated electrical distribution system, substations, duct banks, and related facilities to support operations. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Construction footprint and timeline

• The CEQA notice indicates that the project will require trenching and pavement work to accommodate utilities and infrastructure. Specifically, approximately 20,000 linear feet of soil will be trenched and backfilled, with about 60,000 square yards of pavement added to the project site. The upgrade includes the relocation of an existing longshore labor parking lot adjacent to the current site, as part of the mitigation and layout plan for new charging columns and on-terminal lots. The construction is expected to take about 28 months, reflecting the scale and complexity of integrating high-capacity electrical systems within an active marine terminal. The permit also details security enhancements, access controls, and the creation of multiple cargo-handling lots to optimize equipment movement. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Carriers and yard equipment enabled by the project

• The Pier A ZEI project anticipates enabling a robust fleet of zero-emission cargo-handling equipment. The plan includes a Top Handler Lot to accommodate up to 34 top handlers, with one charger allocated per top handler. The UTR Southern Lot is designed to support up to 106 utility tractors (UTRs) and three heavy-duty forklifts, while the North CHE Lot provides charging for 14 UTR stalls and 10 non-charging stalls, plus two heavy-duty forklift charging stalls and three top-handler charging stalls. An On-Terminal Lot will provide space for 62 parking spots for on-terminal vehicles, including administration, security, and maintenance, with EVSE to support light- and medium-duty operations. These configurations reflect careful coordination of charging capacity with terminal demand, ensuring that equipment can be powered on-site without disrupting marine operations. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Relocation, access, and safety considerations

• The project’s site logistics call for relocating the existing longshore labor parking lot westward, near the marine terminal, to accommodate the new charging infrastructure and associated lots. The CEQA documentation also describes security measures, including a new security fence, pedestrian turnstiles, ADA-accessible gates, and controlled access between the labor parking area and the terminal. The safety-oriented design elements demonstrate a comprehensive approach to integrating new infrastructure within an active port environment while maintaining security and access for workers. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

CEQA exemption and environmental considerations

• The Pier A project’s CEQA review culminated in a Notice of Exemption, with classifications including Existing Facilities (Section 15301), Replacement or Reconstruction (Section 15302), New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Section 15303), Minor Alterations to Land (Section 15304), and related elements. The Notice of Exemption emphasizes that the project involves electrical infrastructure redevelopment and the installation of charging equipment and limited on-site construction that does not entail substantial expansions of use or capacity. This framework helps to clarify the project’s environmental footprint and regulatory treatment. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Section 2: Why It Matters

Regional electrification momentum and policy context

• The Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project sits within a broader push to electrify terminal operations and reduce port-related emissions. State and regional authorities have advanced programs to fund and streamline zero-emission infrastructure at ports, including grants and coordination between ports, utilities, and environmental agencies. The Port of Los Angeles’ Clean Ports Program and related U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiatives illustrate a national pattern of funding and prioritizing zero-emission cargo handling equipment and terminal infrastructure. These programs provide context for Long Beach’s efforts and highlight the policy environment shaping project timelines and funding opportunities. (portoflosangeles.org)

Technology and market trends driving port electrification

• The Long Beach project aligns with ongoing demonstrations and deployments of zero-emission cargo handling equipment, as showcased by broader programs such as the Zero Emissions Port Electrification and Operations (ZEPEO) efforts at POLA and POLB and related ZE infrastructure initiatives. California’s regulatory and research bodies have documented multiple projects at Southern California ports that test and scale electric yard tractors, electric container handling equipment, and associated charging and power upgrades. These efforts are part of a market-wide trend toward decarbonizing port logistics and improving air quality in port-adjacent communities. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Implications for labor, supply chains, and regional air quality

• The Pier A project’s scale—166 charging stations across multiple lots, supported by major electrical upgrades—has potential implications for labor operations, terminal throughput, and regional air quality. The relocation of parking and the introduction of dedicated charging zones can influence labor workflows, maintenance schedules, and the cadence of cargo movements. In the broader regional context, port electrification is a centerpiece of air-quality improvement plans in Southern California, with local and state authorities emphasizing the need to reduce emissions from heavy equipment, trucks, and vessels. As federal and state programs continue to fund and encourage the deployment of zero-emission infrastructure, projects like Pier A ZEI serve as practical case studies for integrating high-capacity charging networks into busy port complexes. (portoflosangeles.org)

Economic and environmental significance

• Electrification projects at major terminals have the potential to reduce diesel-dependent operating costs, support ongoing decarbonization goals, and enable cleaner goods movement. While the CEQA notice does not provide project-cost figures, the scope—nearly 200 EV charging ports worth of capacity, multiple charging levels, and sizable trenching and pavement work—reflects a substantial capital program intended to modernize port infrastructure and support zero-emission equipment. The broader policy landscape, including state-level climate action plans and Clean Ports funding opportunities, reinforces that these investments are part of a coordinated strategy to improve air quality and advance commercial competitiveness in the region. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Section 3: What’s Next

Timeline, milestones, and monitoring

• Construction is expected to span approximately 28 months from the start of significant works, with the CEQA notice indicating the duration explicitly. This places a projected completion window around late 2028 to early 2029, depending on procurement, permitting, and construction sequencing, as well as any potential regulatory or supply-chain delays. The project’s phased approach—Top Handler Lot, UTR Southern Lot, North CHE Lot, and On-Terminal Lot—suggests a staged deployment of charging capacity and support facilities, with concurrent lane modifications and safety improvements. Close monitoring of permitting, utility interconnections, and equipment delivery will be essential to meeting milestones. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Next steps for stakeholders and public visibility

• After permit issuance, the Port of Long Beach and project partners are expected to advance engineering design, procurement of chargers and related equipment, and contractor mobilization. Given the scale of work and the terminal’s ongoing operations, stakeholder coordination will be critical, including labor unions, equipment vendors, and regulatory agencies enforcing CEQA and local permitting requirements. Public notices, project updates, and adherence to environmental mitigations will help ensure transparency and community engagement as the project progresses. The harbor commission record and CEQA documentation provide baseline references for ongoing updates and compliance reporting. (polb.granicus.com)

What to watch for in the near term

• The most immediate indicators will be the commencement of electrical-infrastructure upgrades, the installation of the 166 charging stations across the four lots, and the establishment of the new eRTG lanes that will enable continuous, on-site charging for terminal equipment. Observers should monitor updates from POLB’s environmental planning office and any subsequent CEQA amendments or additional notices related to ZEI at Pier A. Additionally, regional agencies’ funding announcements and port coordination efforts—such as the Clean Ports Program-related notices—will signal the pace and scale of related electrification activities at nearby facilities, providing a broader sense of the market and policy environment shaping Pier A’s implementation. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)

Closing

The Pier A Zero-Emissions Infrastructure Project represents a concrete, sizable step in the ongoing transition to zero-emission cargo handling at major U.S. ports. By installing 166 EV charging stations and aligning terminal layout with electric equipment deployment, POLB is advancing its electrification goals in a way that could influence terminal efficiency, air quality, and the pace of technology adoption across the region. As the project moves through design, procurement, and construction phases, observers will want to track regulatory updates, utility interconnections, and progress toward the 28-month construction horizon, as well as the real-world performance of the charging network and emerging equipment on Pier A. Readers interested in ongoing developments should follow POLB’s environmental planning updates and state-level and federal funding opportunities that support zero-emission port infrastructure.

In the weeks ahead, industry analysts, port users, and community stakeholders will examine how the Pier A ZEI project aligns with broader port modernization efforts, regional air-quality objectives, and the market’s readiness to scale zero-emission technologies across other terminals. To stay informed, keep an eye on official notices from the Port of Long Beach, related CEQA documentation, and state agency updates on zero-emission infrastructure and port electrification initiatives. The path toward cleaner, more efficient goods movement at the nation’s ports is under way, with Pier A serving as a notable benchmark in both scope and ambition. (ceqanet.lci.ca.gov)