Lecture on Green Hydrogen and its Impact on Ports and Communities

Speakers

• Sophia Dubrovich: Longshore worker, ILWU Local 13, Community Advocate
• David T. Ross Jr.: Longshore worker, ILWU Local 13, San Pedro, CA

Personal Backgrounds

• David T. Ross Jr.: Family history with ILWU, lost father to pancreatic cancer, emphasizes importance of health and clean environment

Pollution at LA/Long Beach Port Complex

• Largest single source of pollution in Southern California
• Emissions impact neighboring communities and broader Southern California
• Increases smog up to the Inland Empire

Green Hydrogen as a Solution

• Definition: Hydrogen produced from renewable resources
• Key to clean energy transition, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors
• Historically produced from fossil fuels, now possible from wind, solar, organic waste

Benefits of Green Hydrogen

• Opportunity to reimagine energy systems away from fossil fuels
• Includes community value proposition
• Promotes skilled, family-sustaining careers in clean energy
• Ensures communities affected by fossil fuels benefit from the transition

Impact on Diesel Use and Pollution

• Diesel in long-haul trucking and port logistics is a major pollution source
• Fenix Marine Services as a leader in adopting green hydrogen

Case Study: Fenix Marine Services

• Second largest terminal operator in LA/Long Beach ports
• Example of converting fossil fuel assets to hydrogen fuel cell powered equipment
• Partnership with Toyota Tsusho and US Hybrid
• Demonstrated success with hydrogen fuel cell powered top handler
• Goal to achieve zero emissions by 2030

Advantages of Hydrogen

• Versatile energy source (Swiss Army knife of energy)
• Potential for immediate air quality improvement if widely adopted

Safety Considerations

• Hydrogen is as safe, if not safer, than traditional petroleum products
• Important to approach hydrogen with an open mind

Union Perspective

• Support for clean environment and well-paying jobs
• Union likely to embrace green hydrogen technology

Challenges to Adoption

• Scaling to reduce costs
• Need for infrastructure to produce, transport, store, and deliver hydrogen

Conclusion

• Projects like this can advance cleaner, healthier communities
• Combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels
• Green hydrogen is key to achieving a clean and just energy transition