Long Beach - Toyota automobile terminal renovation decision on 13th August

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is scheduled to vote Monday, 13^th August on a proposal by Toyota Logistics Services to reconfigure its facility at Pier B and build a renewable fuel-cell power plant and hydrogen fueling station.

The study being released by the Port is called an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), meaning that no substantial evidence was found that the project would have a significant effect on the environment. Public comment on the proposal was accepted through July 10 and a final study and Notice of Intent have been issued.

Toyota operates a ro-ro terminal where new automobiles are off-loaded from ships, processed and transported off-site via truck or rail. The company is proposing to streamline its operations by demolishing existing office, car washing, fueling, auto body and other facilities and consolidating many of these functions into a single PDI and technical centre. Plans for the facility also add a 2.3MW fuel-cell power plant and a new fueling station that includes pumps dedicated to hydrogen.

This could be attractive for Long Beach going forward as it seeks to eliminate emissions from port equipment.