Environmental: Long Beach, Metro Vancouver

Two Port of Long Beach grant-funded environmental projects were ceremoniously opened Sept. 10 at the Century Villages of Cabrillo homeless rehabilitation complex in West Long Beach.

Century Villages at Cabrillo was awarded grants under the port’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Grant Program. One $161,455 grant went toward a solar energy system that will provide 150,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually; the other, for $170,000 grant, went for an urban garden to lend beauty and also to capture harmful emissions.

"The Port of Long Beach is proud to support Century Villages through green and sustainable projects that raise the quality of life for its residents, as well as the greater Long Beach community," said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Doug Drummond. The other funding partners were Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks USA, and Southern California Edison.

The solar energy grant project involved installing a solar power system on the carport structures adjacent to the Casa de Cabrillo building. The project will help reduce greenhouse gases, as well as bring long-term electrical cost savings.

The urban forest project included planting about 100 trees on the western perimeter of the housing campus, which will help to sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. The urban forest is located adjacent to and expands on the campus landscape barrier that was funded through a previous Port of Long Beach Community Mitigation Grant under the Schools and Related Sites Program.

Century Villages, formerly a Navy housing center, serves more than 1,000 individuals a day, including more than 400 children.

Port Metro Vancouver’s EcoAction program, which promotes emissions reductions for ocean-going vessels by offering financial incentives through discounted harbor due rates, has been awarded a Clean50 Top Project award for advancing sustainability in Canada. Canada’s Clean50 Awards, managed by Delta Management and Canada’s Clean50 organization, celebrate sustainability achievements and honor outstanding contributors to sustainable development and clean capitalism in Canada. 

The EcoAction program focuses on reducing ship emissions. A variety of fuel quality, technology options and environmental management practices are eligible to receive discounted harbor due rates. The program promotes attainable emissions reduction goals for ocean-going vessels that enter Port Metro Vancouver, and rewards those who excel in environmental stewardship. 

Port Metro Vancouver’s sustainability work ranges from shore power and the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, to the EcoAction program. Recent recognition includes an endorsement by Sir Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room.