CONFERENCE RECAPS Cleaner equipment and operations Alongside community outreach, the Port and its tenants have invested heav- ily in reducing emissions. A key part- ner throughout has been SSA Marine, which operates cargo-handling facilities at the Port. Through grants and joint initiatives, the partners have introduced zero-emission cargo-handling equip- ment and electrified forklifts. Wingfield said about 40 percent of tenant-operated equipment and 60 percent of port-owned equipment is now zero-emission. Joe Carrillo highlighted the com- pany’s broader sustainability efforts. “Our goal in 2021 was to do a 15 per- cent reduction by 2024,” he said. “We actually reduced emissions by 28 per- cent as a company.” SSA Marine now aims to cut emissions by 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2035, based on its 2022 baseline. “These efforts are only possible through partnerships with port authorities and commun- ities,” Carrillo said. The port is also collaborating with tug operator Brusco Tug & Barge, which is upgrading its fleet to Tier 4 engines to further reduce emissions.
Major federal investment A major milestone was achieved when the Port secured $110 million through the federal Clean Ports Program. Wingfield said the Port initially expected to receive only a portion of its request. “We were thinking big picture and asking for a lot,” he said. “But we got everything we asked for.” The funding will support a wide range of projects, including:
District and San Joaquin Delta College to develop training programs focused on modern port and logistics careers. Technicians now need advanced skills to maintain electric and com- puterized equipment. “This isn’t work with a wrench anymore,” Wingfield said. “Most of the equipment is com- puterized.” The Port has also created a centralized jobs board to connect resi- dents with employment opportunities at tenant companies. Businesses that hire workers from the surrounding community receive a $1,000 rent credit. Managing the human side of change While funding and technology are critical, both speakers emphasized that the biggest challenge is manag- ing change. Carrillo noted that when electric forklifts were first introduced, many workers were reluctant to use them. “About 80 percent of the union staff didn’t want to use the machines at first,” he said. Over time, however, familiarity and training helped over- come resistance. Today, most operators prefer the electric equipment. Wingfield said the experience taught him an important lesson. “We thought infrastructure and funding would be the hard part,” he said. “Absolutely not. The hard part is managing expecta- tions and helping people through all this change.” Building a model for community partnerships For the Port of Stockton, the com- bination of community engagement, emissions reductions, and workforce investment has created a new model for balancing economic activity with environmental responsibility. Wingfield said the key has been sustained col- laboration among the port, tenants, and residents. “When we get tired, we lean on each other,” he said. “It’s about building something together.”
• 54 electric forklifts • Two electric cranes • Six electric terminal tractors
• Shore power installations • A rail car indexing system • 54 charging stations • Six megawatts of rooftop solar with battery storage Because the Port operates its own electrical utility across much of its property, integrating renewable energy and storage was essential to ensure the grid could support the new equipment. Workforce development The transition to cleaner technol- ogy has also created new workforce needs. The Port is partnering with local schools, Stockton Unified School
Joe Carrillo (SSA Marine) and Jeff Wingfield (Port of Stockton) are thanked for their presentation by Sharon Weissman (Port of Long Beach).
44 — PACIFIC PORTS — March 2026
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