US unveils winners of $3 billion Clean Ports Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that 55 applicants across 27 states and territories will receive nearly $3 billion through its Clean Ports Program.

These grants, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, will support the deployment of zero-emission equipment, as well as infrastructure and climate and air quality planning projects at ports across the country. The aim is to advance “environmental justice” by reducing diesel air pollution in U.S. ports and surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs.

According to EPA, the announced funds will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes’ energy use for one year.

Michael S. Regan, EPA’s Administrator, commented: “Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy. Today’s historic $3 billion investment builds on President Biden’s vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in globally competitive solutions of the future. Delivering cleaner technologies and resources to U.S. ports will slash harmful air and climate pollution while protecting people who work in and live nearby ports communities.”

To note, EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for U.S. ports in February 2024. The first is a Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and the second is a Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities.

As already revealed, 55 applications were chosen to receive the investment.

Winners of the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition include the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and the Port Department of the City of Oakland.

As for the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition, the selected applicants include the Port of Houston Authority in Texas, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA).

The Clean Ports Program is said to advance President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. As per EPA, near-port community engagement and equity considerations were at the forefront of the program’s design.

The agency anticipates making awards once all legal, statutory, and administrative requirements are satisfied. Selectees will work with EPA over the coming months to finalize project plans before receiving final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.