LOS ANGELES, June 8 Reuters Unions hope a 30 million grant to electrify tractors in a Long Beach, California, port terminal39;s final push to become the world39;s first zeroemissions facility will serve as a bulwark against lost jobs in an era of energy transition and increasing automation.

The money from U.S. President Joe Biden39;s administration for Long Beach Container Terminal39;s purchase of 60 electric yard tractors that haul shipping containers from stacks to waiting trains comes with strings attached the new equipment must be operated by humans.

The drivers of those new tractors will labor alongside more than 100 automated vehicles and 70 driverless containerstacking cranes at America39;s most automated port terminal, which aims to be emissions free by 2030.

The U.S. transportation sector is the nation39;s largest contributor of climate changing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA. As seaports race to swap out diesel equipment like tractors, trucks and cranes for cleaner electric models, they39;re also eyeing new automation technology to help process more cargo.

More automation means fewer jobs, in the minds of union leaders, and they have found an ally in the White House.

While the 30 million grant is a fraction of the total cost of the terminal39;s 2.5 billion modernization program, unions and their allies hope that it and others like it will show the value of prioritizing jobs as U.S. employers adopt green…