Biden-Harris administration awards grants to back cleaner technologies for marine vessels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded funding to incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions for marine vessels.

As disclosed, a total of nearly $125 million was granted as part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts.

Specifically, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors including engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment.

In addition to funding new cleaner diesel technologies, more than half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks and shore power to marine vessels. 

Some of the recipients include the Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Georgia Ports Authority, South Carolina Ports Authority, Virginia Port Authority, etc.

All selected projects are expected to reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, including disadvantaged communities and other areas facing environmental justice concerns. A small number of awards are still under processing, according to U.S. officials.

DERA promotes environmental justice by focusing on emissions reductions in areas most impacted by health and environmental challenges from diesel fleets.

“Every community deserves to breathe clean air, but too many communities are still over-burdened by pollution from older diesel equipment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

“With the latest round of funding, EPA’s successful DERA program will upgrade these sources of harmful pollution, and accelerate real progress toward a cleaner, more just, and healthier future for all Americans.” 

The EPA is dedicated to ensuring that the DERA Program aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims for 40% of the benefits from specific federal investments to reach disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and disproportionately affected by pollution.

To remind, in May this year, the Biden-Harris administration decided to invest $4 billion as part of the Investing in America agenda to boost electrification of the US ports. The money will be used to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants, improve air quality and public health in neighboring communities, and advance environmental justice.