The Port of Long Beach environmental award recognizes decades of work combining cargo growth, cleaner technology and more sustainable freight operations across the Southern California region.

Port of Long Beach clean air equipment and container terminal
Official Port of Long Beach image related to clean air and zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment. Photo: Port of Long Beach

The California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance presented the 2026 Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award during its annual summer seminar. Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba accepted the honor from council Chair Fran Inman.

The award recognizes people or organizations that protect the environment while supporting economic growth. It is named after Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, who served as California governor from 1959 to 1967.

“Governor Pat Brown knew that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can exist side by side. We are happy to continue his legacy.”

— Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna

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Port of Long Beach environmental award reflects Green Port policy

The port adopted its Green Port Policy in 2005. The framework links operational sustainability with community protection, cleaner air and water, wildlife safeguards and the use of the best available technology.

Its longer-term targets include zero-emission cargo-handling equipment by 2030 and a zero-emission drayage truck fleet by 2035. These goals connect the award to measurable equipment and freight-system changes rather than to recognition alone.

Port of Long Beach environmental award follows new investment

In June, the Harbor Commission authorized a $58.2 million package for cleaner technology. The plan covers 61 zero-emission, human-operated cargo-handling machines, 21 chargers, six zero-emission harbor craft, five additional cleaner harbor vessels and one zero-emission locomotive.

The package forms part of the Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation initiative, supported partly by the California State Transportation Agency. It expands the port’s work beyond terminal equipment into marine and rail operations.

Rail connections support the port’s freight role

Pacific Harbor Line provides switching, maintenance and dispatching services across the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The neutral short-line railroad connects port terminals with BNSF and Union Pacific.

The Brown Award is broader than rail transport, but the port’s equipment program shows how cleaner switching and intermodal operations fit within the same environmental and economic strategy. That connection gives the recognition direct relevance to freight rail and port logistics.

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