Trump stalls $1B push to electrify trucking at Port of LA

LOS ANGELES — As the new Trump administration and blue states spar over the future of clean energy, a critical battle will determine the future of Southern California’s smog.

Los Angeles’ biggest clean-air initiative — an effort to convert over a thousand heavy-duty vehicles from diesel to batteries or hydrogen — has had a turbulent couple of months because of Trump’s regulatory rollback and funding freeze.

The ports “were incredibly excited about the opportunity, and they are still hoping they can make the case that those funds should still be invested in their projects,” said John Boesel, the CEO of CALSTART, a nonprofit that is using some grant funds to provide EV discounts to trucking companies. “But they’re very concerned and alarmed that that funding may go away.”