Port of San Diego Hosting CEQA Scoping Meetings for the Tidelands Avenue Electric Truck Hub EIR, Project Goal is to Improve Public Health in National City

Scoping period open until July 21

The Port of San Diego is hosting two scoping meetings for a zero emissions (ZE) battery-electric truck charging station proposed in West National City by Skychargers, LLC (Skycharger). The meetings are part of a month-long scoping period during which the Port is collecting input and feedback from various agencies, stakeholders, and the public pertaining to the technical scope and content of the environmental analysis and information that will be included in the project’s associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR). 

If approved by the Board of Port Commissioners in the future, the Electric Truck Hub would reduce the number of diesel trucks that go through National City and other communities adjacent to the Port, resulting in less diesel pollution. The project would also support the Port’s clean energy goals by providing innovative clean energy infrastructure and providing a cleaner and healthier environment for surrounding communities. Specifically, it would align with the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and its “Health Equity for All” vision and help the Port make progress toward its zero-emissions trucking goals. 

“Improving public health is the goal of and priority for this project,” said Commissioner GilAnthony Ungab, National City’s appointee to the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “I was a practicing cardiologist for nearly 20 years in National City. The Skycharger Electric Truck Hub project has the potential to support the health of the very communities that live and work closest to the Port. I encourage all relevant agencies, stakeholders and community members to engage in this environmental review process, ask questions, and give feedback.”

Environmental Review, Public Scoping Meetings, Community Engagement & Public Safety
The Port and Skycharger are committed to continued conversations with the city, community and stakeholders about community concerns and potential impacts and how to address them. Skycharger is the project proponent, and the Port is the lead agency in preparing the EIR. In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Port has issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP), which provides information describing the project, its location, and its probable environmental effects. Pursuant to CEQA, the Port has also prepared an Initial Study for the project, which is attached to the NOP. Focus areas that will be further studied and addressed during environmental review include potential impacts to Air Quality, Energy, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, and Transportation. 

In September 2024, Port Commissioners directed Port staff to commence environmental review for the project consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The resulting EIR, lease, and a Coastal Development Permit, will be presented to the Board of Port Commissioners for approval at a future date prior to construction of the project. Following EIR certification and approvals, construction would take approximately six months.

As part of the environmental review process, the Port is hosting two scoping meetings in late June and will solicit written comments only on the scope of the proposed EIR. Details are as follows:

• Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  6 p.m.
  In person
  National City Public Library Community Room
  1401 National City Boulevard, National City, CA 91950
   

• Wednesday, June 25, 2025
  6 p.m.
  Virtual via Zoom
  Join the virtual meeting by clicking here. (Link: https://bit.ly/43D2QAK)

Spanish and Tagalog interpretation services will be available for both meetings. Only written comments regarding environmental concerns about the proposed project will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025 and should be mailed to: San Diego Unified Port District, Planning Department, Attn: Peter Eichar, P.O. Box 120488, San Diego, California 92112-0488 or emailed to: peichar@portofsandiego.org.

Community Safety
Community safety is also a top priority for the Skycharger project. The initiative includes comprehensive fire safety and risk mitigation measures and involves ongoing dialogue with the National City Fire Chief and experts throughout the region.

Proposal Details
In March 2024, the Board selected Skycharger to negotiate a project to build and operate an approximately 4.8-acre ZE truck charging station at 19th Street and Tidelands Avenue on an industrial site along an existing truck route with no residential neighbors next to the National City Marine Terminal. As proposed, the facility would have 70 charging ports of varying levels to support opportunity and overnight charging. Planned amenities include a convenience store and a restroom facility. 

To ensure energy reliability and operational resiliency, Skycharger is proposing a 1,750-kW solar array with a 2.5 MW/5MWh (power rating/energy capacity) battery system for its distributed energy resources. Skycharger is also developing a Trucking as a Service (TaaS) program. TaaS is a term in the ZE trucking world used to describe an opt-in business model for truck drivers to pay a monthly program fee for the truck lease, charging, and maintenance, equal or less than the actual cost. The TaaS program would include a 90-day “try before you buy” program and a five-year path to ownership. 

Skycharger Background
Established in 2013, Skycharger submitted a proposal to the Port in partnership with Burns & McDonnell and Skyview Ventures. Skyview Ventures is the financing partner responsible for all costs related to financing, design, procurement, installation, operation, and maintenance. 

Skycharger has experience building ZE infrastructure for the West Coast Electric Highway DC fast charger network, which is the fourth largest charging network in California, and is in the process of constructing the PepsiCo LA Mega Facility in Torrance, California. Burns & McDonnell has been providing energy consulting and electrical engineering services to the Port under an as-needed energy services contract since 2016.

Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS)
The Port is committed to cleaner air for everyone who lives, works, and plays on and around San Diego Bay. In October 2021, the Board of Port Commissioners approved the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) to help the Port identify projects and initiatives to improve environmental and public health while also supporting efficient, modern and sustainable maritime operations. Its “Health Equity for All” vision represents the Port’s commitment to environmental justice, technological innovation, and transparent governance. The MCAS is the most ambitious clean air strategy policy document of its kind in the State of California, and the Port has so far implemented two-thirds of the nearly 40 strategies outlined in the plan, resulting in significant improvements to air quality on and around the bay and in surrounding communities. 

In support of the MCAS, the Port and various partners have invested or committed more than $227 million in clean air technologies and projects. Notable among these initiatives include:

• The Port of San Diego is the first in North America to have all-electric mobile harbor cranes, which are in operation at the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbor cranes have replaced an obsolete diesel mobile harbor crane.

• The first all-electric harbor tugboat in the U.S., built and operated by Crowley, began operating in San Diego Bay in spring 2024. 

• A new solar-powered microgrid is online at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

• A maritime emissions capture and control system (also known as a bonnet) at the Port’s cargo terminals began operating in 2025.

• Shore power installation at the National City Marine Terminal, and additional shore power capability added at the Port’s cruise terminals.

• Port fleet electrification.

• Tenant electrification:
  • Terminalift – electric reach stacker, forklifts, and semi-trucks.
  • SSA Marine – six new pieces of electric cargo handling equipment, including a recently deployed forklift.
  • Pasha – first all-electric car haulers in the U.S.
  • Dole – first on the West Coast to use battery-electric utility tractor rigs (UTRs) for cargo handling.
  • Marine Group Boat Works – converted a diesel tugboat to electric.