La Hua officials approved the Port Pollution Agreement

Southern California aviation officials voted overwhelmingly Friday to give themselves the authority to impose fines on the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach if they don’t meet their pledges to switch to cleaner equipment.

Ports remain the largest source of smog-causing pollution in Southern California—emitting more emissions than the region’s 6 million vehicles each day.

The governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted 9-1 in favor of an agreement that commits ports to installing zero-emissions equipment, such as electric truck chargers or hydrogen fuel pumps, to prevent air pollution from the largest pollutants. The plans will be delivered in three phases: heavy-duty trucks and bulk cargo equipment by 2028; Small locomotives and port industries by 2029; and cargo ships and other large vessels by 2030.

If ports do not meet their deadlines, they will be fined $50,000 to $200,000, which goes to the Clean Air Fund to help communities affected by port pollution. The AQMD, for its part, is putting off implementing the new regulations on ports for five years.

Many environmental advocates expressed disappointment, saying the agreement lacked specific pollution reduction requirements.

“I urge you not to sign up for a rosy promise to do more to help solve the region’s air pollution crisis,” said Kathy Ramirez, one of dozens of speakers at Friday’s board meeting. “This is about our lives. I would encourage you to think about why you joined the AQMD board. If not for clean air, then what?”

Port officials and shipping industry officials hailed the decision as a practical way to transition to a zero-emissions economy.

“The give and take of ideas and compromises in this process — it reflects exactly what a real-world transition to zero emissions looks like,” said William Bartelson, executive of the Pacific Marine Assn. “It’s practical, it’s inclusive and it’s based on common goals.”

The vote answers the long-standing question of how AQMD intends to reduce pollution from the sprawling business complex, which has been a focus of environmental justice efforts for decades.

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, known as the San Pedro Port Complex, are the largest container ports in the Western Hemisphere, handling 40% of all container cargo entering the United States. Despite years of efforts to reduce pollution, the vast majority of heavy machinery, large vessels, trains and ships that serve the region’s fast-moving goods movement are still powered by diesel engines that emit toxic particulates and nitrogen oxides, precursors to smog.

For nearly a decade the AQMD has vacillated between strict regulations and an agreement with ports with more flexibility. Between 2017 and 2022, several negotiations on the Memorandum of Understanding have failed. The board was prepared to require ports to curb smog-creating pollution from trucks, trains and ships through clean-air projects such as solar panels or electric vehicle chargers. Instead, the monkeys presented the AQMD with a proposed cooperative agreement, prompting the agency to suspend its rule.

AQMD doubled the fines in the proposal and agreed not to make new regulations for five years, not the 10 the industry wants.

Perhaps the most important details of the agreement – energy and fuel types used; An adequate number of chargers or fuel stations – will not be published for years. The lack of specifics raised the skepticism of many environmental advocates.

“It’s just a style tactic to plan for the plan in the hope that emissions reductions will come sometime in the future,” said Fernando Gaitan, chief attorney at the environmental nonprofit Earth Justice.

The contract also includes a provision that AQMD or Ports can terminate the contract “for any reason” with 45 days’ written notice. AQMD Executive Director Wayne Nastri said this gives the agency the authority to push back on zero-emission infrastructure at ports.

“If we report back to you and you don’t see progress, you can rest assured that you can pivot and release. [rulemaking] package,” Nastri told the board.

At the end of public comments, opponents of the agreement broke into loud chants. AQMD cleared the gallery when the board discussed the proposal.

Board member Veronica Padilla-Campus, the lone “no” vote, said the agreement lacked the necessary emissions reductions and offered “no clear accountability” to local communities.

Board member Nitya Raman accepted many criticisms of the agreement but ultimately voted it down.

“I really believe that the choice before us is a cooperation agreement or no action on this issue — a decade of inaction,” Raman said.

“I will vote to support it today, because I think it’s the only way we can take steps toward cleaner air in the single largest source of air pollution in the region.”

The plan still must be approved by commissioners of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission at meetings this year.