The Port of Oakland officials hosted U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), California Governor Gavin Newsom, and U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary David Crane for a Port tour. This was part of the August 30 celebration marking the official launch of the first Alliance for Renewable Clean H₂ Energy Systems (ARCHES) H₂ Hub in the nation, supporting a $1.2-B federal investment in California for H₂ projects. Port Board President Michael Colbruno and Executive Director Danny Wan gave a Port tour on board the WETA’s (Water Emergency Transportation Authority) newest fuel cell ferry Sea Change. The tour focused on H₂ and zero-emissions projects at the Oakland Seaport.

“We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and Newsom Administration for making federal funding available to build the nation’s first H₂ Hub in Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan. “We are on a road to zero emissions at the Port, but it requires major investments. Thank you to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Senator Padilla, and Governor Newsom for your leadership, ARCHES for supporting H₂ projects that serve Northern California, and for selecting Oakland to be a part of this clean energy hub.”

California is the first state in the U.S. to launch a H₂ hub. ARCHES is California’s initiative to accelerate renewable H₂ projects and the required infrastructure. The H₂ hub will support H₂ as an energy source for electricity generation, vehicles, and manufacturing. Emissions from renewable H₂ when used as fuel are only air and water.

The federal designated California as one of seven regions to receive funds from the $7-B Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As a result, the domestic market for low-cost clean H₂ would be expanded. Today, there are 30 zero-emissions H₂ fuel cell trucks in service at Oakland. This is the largest deployment of H₂ fuel cell, heavy duty trucks in the nation. The H₂ fueling station is located next to the Port of Oakland.

The Senator and Governor along with other local, state and federal officials, took a harbor tour where they could watch Port operations up close from the water. Then the group went to East Bay Municipal Utility District where they could see the nation’s first commercial H₂ fueling station for trucks that haul freight to and from ports. H₂ and many other zero-emissions related projects at the Port, contribute to improving air quality and public health in the East Bay.

Guests included: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.); California Governor Gavin Newsom; Dee Dee Myers, Director, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); Angelina Galiteva, CEO, ARCHES; U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Under Secretary David W. Crane. Support from the DOE, ARCHES, and private sector partners have made it possible through collaboration and funding to design and implement projects for cutting emissions from Port of Oakland operations including:

EPA Clean ports grant:

• Port of Oakland and a coalition of 20 partners have applied for a $417-MM federal grant
• Grant is through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Ports Program: Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition
• Convert 100% of cargo handling equipment to zero-emissions alternatives; this includes partnerships with workforce development organizations and labor.

H₂ hub:

• 30 zero-emissions H₂ fuel cell trucks in service at Oakland
• World’s first commercial H₂ truck fueling station opened next to Port at East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD) April 30, 2024 (NorCal ZERO project)
• The station, operated by FirstElement Fuel, can refuel up to 200 trucks per day.

Shore power:

• Shore power is grid-based, high-voltage, electrical infrastructure
• Ships plug in to the grid at Oakland, this means zero vessel emissions at dock
• Port established a new shore power usage record at 94% in first six months of 2024.

Mobile shore power:

• Working to be first port in nation with mobile shore power
• Mobile electrical outlets along wharves for ships to plug in more easily
• The result will be even cleaner air at seaport.