The Port of Oakland in California is making steps towards its goal of transitioning to all electric, heavy-duty trucks and cargo-handling equipment with the approval of a $2 million contract to establish electric infrastructure.

The project includes establishing solar generation, battery storage systems, a fuel cell, and the replacement of a substation and connecting circuitry at the seaport.

Engineering design consulting firm Burns & McDonnell was hired to design construction drawings of electrical infrastructure components that incorporate green technology and resiliency features. Design is the foundational work that creates the first critical step toward constructing the new substation and the accompanying infrastructure, port officials said in a press release.

The latter will integrate renewable power to support the port’s goal of transitioning to all electric, heavy-duty trucks and cargo-handling equipment. It will eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels in cargo handling operations.

This new infrastructure in the maritime area will serve the former Oakland Army Base and Outer Harbor sites. The project will also improve the maritime area’s electrical grid resiliency.

In December 2021, the Port of Oakland received a federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant is for upgrading a portion of the port’s utility system and increasing its renewable energy capacity.

In 2019, the Port approved an initiative to create a zero-emissions seaport. The Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan provides the strategy and process for the transition from a fossil fuel-based seaport to a zero-emissions seaport. Providing electrical infrastructure systems to support zero-emissions equipment and operations is essential to decarbonizing the Oakland Seaport and delivering air quality and community health benefits. The port is continuing to work with regional, state and federal partners to advance and implement clean energy and zero emissions initiatives throughout the port.