Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero, speaking before some 1,000 people, highlighted the 20th anniversary of the “Green Port” initiative Thursday, Jan. 16, at his annual State of the Port speech.
Along with the sold-out crowd of 900 at the Long Beach Convention Center, there were others watching the live-streamed event online. One of the most anticipated speeches of the year — the Port of Los Angeles will present its State of the Port talk on Jan. 23 — Cordero’s presentation, celebratory in nature and lasting more than an hour, drew frequent applause.
The speech was interspersed with videos that also included interviews with other port, government and industry leaders.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Long Beach harbor commission President Bonnie Lowenthal, along with Noel Noel Hacegaba, chief operating officer at the port, shared introductory remarks at the polished event that also includes musical entertainment and lunch.
Most of Cordero’s remarks centered on advances made to cut pollution in the port and also on the rise in cargo numbers. He did not address the coming tariffs promised by the incoming Trump Administration and how that could impact shipping and cargo numbers.
But Cordero has hit on the topic in a December news release, saying 2018 tariffs resulted in a 20% decline in imports from China and a 45% decline in U.S. exports to China due to retaliatory actions.
But the Cordero’s speech Thursday was billed as a time to celebrate and focus on advances the port has made in its two-decade-long push to become “zero emissions” in its operations as “America’s Green Port.” After the speech, he was joined by representatives of the State Lands Commission and Humboldt Bay to sign a memorandum of understanding to enable floating offshore wind power.
“We are celebrating significant progress not seen at any port complex in the nation or industry sector,” Cordero told the packed crowd, later adding: “Let me be clear: our stated mission is…
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