Gateway Terminal in New Haven secures ‘vital’ funding for zero-emission technology

Gateway Terminal in New Haven, Connecticut, an Enstructure company, has been awarded funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the agency’s Clean Ports Program to purchase and install electric and zero-emissions (ZE) equipment and infrastructure.

As disclosed, the allocated grant amounts to $34 million and it is set to be invested across a number of initiatives as part of Enstructure’s progress toward its overarching zero emissions targets.

Specifically, the New Haven project includes the replacement of current diesel-powered assets with new electric equipment and the installation of charging infrastructure and solar panels to power that equipment. Additionally, the funding will go toward buying electric gantry cranes, material handlers and yard trucks.

“In New Haven, Gateway Terminal will be using this funding to replace four aging diesel-powered cranes with all-electric machines, deploy 10 all-electric tractors for terminal drayage services, and install solar infrastructure,” U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro explained more closely.

“These efforts will reduce their reliance on the electric grid and the need for fossil fuel dependency while greatly improving air quality for residents of the City.”

As understood, the New London State Pier, where the Gateway Terminal is the port operator, has also bagged $5,000,000 through the Clean Ports Program to acquire a mobile shore power unit and install the required infrastructure.

As a result, this is anticipated to help docked vessels connect to the local electric grid to power onboard services instead of running their diesel engines.

“Our ports are the driving force behind Connecticut’s blue economy, but the diesel-powered equipment we use to move goods through them is polluting nearby communities and taking a toll on public health,” U.S. Senator, Chris Murphy, spotlighted further.

“By replacing aging, polluting equipment with cleaner, zero-emission alternatives, this $39 million in federal funding will help keep ports in New Haven and New London running smoothly.”

“We are grateful for the support of our partners throughout this process, including the State of Connecticut, Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. With their support, we are improving our infrastructure in New Haven to maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship and terminal service,” Philippe de Montigny, Co-CEO and Founder of Enstructure, shared.

In terms of sustainability, Enstructure has partaken in numerous initiatives focused on reducing harmful pollutant emissions and going ‘fully green’. To remind, one such development was unveiled recently when the company announced it became an official member of Green Marine, an environmental certification program for the North American maritime industry.

To obtain the certification, Enstructure said it would benchmark its ecological performance for issues such as greenhouse gases (GHG), spill prevention, stormwater and waste management.

The EPA’s Clean Ports Program, which was launched in February this year, encompassed $3 billion in funding for the country’s port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations.

Specifically, 55 applicants across 27 states and regions were tentatively selected in the process and rewarded with this Inflation Reduction Act-funded grant.

The grant consisted of two opportunities: the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition, and the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition.

Among the winners of the former are the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of San Diego, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and the Port Department of the City of Oakland.

In regards to the latter, among the awardees are the Port of Houston Authority in Texas, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA).