Long Beach Airport (LGB) has received a $680,851 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to purchase six electric vehicles (EV) and two solar tree vehicle chargers.
This is part of the FAA’s Zero Emissions Vehicle and Infrastructure Pilot Program, and will be paired with $72,803 in airport revenue. This investment was coordinated by Long Beach Airport in partnership with the City’s Fleet Services Bureau, which provided cost estimates for the new equipment.
“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 in a public statement. “This generous funding from the FAA is not just an investment for the present—it’s ensuring a greener tomorrow.”
This latest project is part of an ongoing effort to reduce emissions created by operational equipment on the airfield. In 2020, 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 purchases also align 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 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.
“Long Beach Airport is deeply committed to reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the sustainability of our operations,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry in a public statement. “We are grateful for this FAA support to help us take another important step in our journey toward net-zero emissions.”