Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program Wins 2012 California Air Quality Award

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — June 21, 2012 — The Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program and its leadership team, headed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, will receive top honors this evening from the Coalition for Clean Air with the California Air Quality Award for 2012.

The Coalition for Clean Air is recognizing Mayor Villaraigosa for his visionary leadership in the groundbreaking Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program, along with Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski, former Harbor Commission President David Freeman, and former Harbor Commission Vice President Jerilyn López Mendoza and Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz for their clean air stewardship.

“Our Clean Truck program is proof that economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “I’m proud to play a role in a program that has greened our port for the long haul and ensured that Angelenos will breathe cleaner air.”

“Prior to the start of the Clean Truck Program in 2008, there was no accountability for the thousands of trucks that called at the Port of Los Angeles,” said Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski. “Today, we’ve slashed harmful emissions by approximately 90 percent and each of the trucks hauling cargo meets the strictest clean air and safety standards of any port in the world.”

The Port of Los Angeles’ Clean Truck Program, which established a progressive ban on polluting trucks to improve regional air quality, has also introduced about 900 alternative-fuel trucks to the fleet and the testing of electric trucks.

Other honorees included Jay Leno for his longstanding dedication to the promotion of zero-emission vehicles, and Martin Daum, President and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America for achievements in alternative fuel technologies in the Freightliner truck line.

The Coalition for Clean Air is California’s only statewide nonprofit dedicated exclusively to advocating for healthy air. CCA events raise funds to support vital work in reducing air pollution across California and the organization is committed to restoring clean, healthy air to all of California and strengthening the environmental movement by promoting broad-based community involvement, advocating responsible public policy and providing technical expertise.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port supports more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port. A brighter future.