State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: seaports: plan: alternative fuels.

Senator Caballero's alternative fuels legislation directs the California Energy Commission to develop a comprehensive plan for deploying alternative fuels across the state's public seaports by December 31, 2030. The plan, to be created in coordination with the Transportation Agency and Air Resources Board, must detail infrastructure needs, permitting processes, and viable locations for alternative fuel facilities serving ocean-going vessels.

The required plan will map out the complete lifecycle of alternative maritime fuels - from manufacturing and procurement through storage and delivery to vessels at California ports. It must include cost estimates for infrastructure development and identify potential public and private financing mechanisms. To inform this planning process, the Energy Commission will convene a working group comprising seaport operators, ocean carriers, labor representatives, environmental advocates, cargo owners, and relevant government agencies.

This planning mandate comes as the International Maritime Organization has established targets for reducing shipping emissions, including an interim goal for alternative fuels to represent 5-10% of maritime energy use by 2030. The bill's findings note that cargo diverted from West Coast ports to East Coast and Gulf facilities generates 19% higher greenhouse gas emissions on average for Asian imports, highlighting the environmental implications of California's port competitiveness.