Biden-Harris administration awards $3 billion in EPA Clean Ports grants program

A significant number of Green Marine participants are recipients of some of the nearly $3 billion that the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) is giving as part of its Clean Ports Program. The grants are to help fund zero-emission port equipment infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning for American ports.

Made possible by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the grants have been awarded to 55 applicants in 27 states and territories. The zero-emission freight and ferry technologies they will help to establish, along with their associated infrastructure, are expected to eliminate more than three million metric tons of carbon pollution – or the equivalent of the energy used by 391,220 homes for a year.

In California, the Port of Oakland has received $322 million which combined with port and local partners will result in about a $500 million total investment in green projects. It is the highest amount of government funds ever allocated to a Bay Area initiative to reduce emissions from port cargo operations. The funding will go toward purchasing 663 units of zero-emissions equipment, including 475 drayage vehicles and 188 cargo-handling units.

The Stockton Port District has received $110.4 million for the Port of Stockton to purchase electric cargo-handling equipment, charging infrastructure, solar generation, battery energy storage, as well as vessel shore power.

The San Diego Unified Port District has received $58.6 million for the Port of San Diego to acquire electric cargo-handling equipment and on road medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, charging infrastructure and vessel shore power.

Also on the West Coast, the Port of Hueneme has received $41.7 million towards its PHRESH (Port of Hueneme Reducing Emissions, Supporting Health) Project to accelerate the port’s zero-emission transformation. The funding will accelerate the deployment of zero-emission port-handling equipment and create incentives for the trucking community to transition to electric vehicles. Another $1.2 million will go towards an emissions inventory, resiliency plan development, workforce impact analysis, and (funded separately) emissions reduction strategy and community air monitoring.

“This historic $42 million EPA grant sets the pace for the port to lead the way as the nation’s first fully zero emission port for cargo handling equipment and enables us to enhance the quality of life for our adjacent communities with state-of-the-art clean operations,” says Kristin Decas, the Port of Hueneme president and CEO.

At the Port of Redwood City, a $1.9-million grant will go towards an emissions inventory, an emissions reduction strategy, a resilience assessment and improvement plan, as well a comprehensive plan involving public participation to engage relevant stakeholders in a strategy for collaborative workforce development.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance in Washington State has been given a $3-million grant for the Port of Tacoma, which will be used for an emission inventory, terminal-specific feasibility analysis of zero-emission technology with the planned acquisition of 40 new equipment units, along with shore-power engineering. The port’s workforce and climate change resilience will also be assessed.

Also in Washington State, the Port of Anacortes is receiving $1.3 million for an emissions inventory and reduction strategy, workforce planning with community stakeholders, as well as a resiliency assessment.

Meanwhile the Port of Bellingham has been granted $1.5 million for its emissions inventory and reduction planning, a port-wide action plan for energy transition, along with a community engagement framework, and workforce development assessment.

More than $200 million has been awarded by the EPA to Great Lakes ports. Under the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Grants, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is receiving $94.3 million for the Port of Cleveland to purchase electric cargo-handling equipment and vessels, update infrastructure, and install shore power.

The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority is obtaining $21.9 million for the Port of Detroit to purchase cargo-handling equipment, vessels and railcar movers, as well as charging infrastructure and shore power. As one of the Climate and Air Quality Planning grant recipients, the Port of Detroit is receiving an additional $3 million to develop an emissions reduction trajectory, community engagement plan, and workforce development strategy.

Georgia Ports Authority is being given $48.7 million to help fund the acquisition of electric cargo handling equipment, charging infrastructure, as well as vessel shore power. 

The Ports of Indiana are getting $500,000 to conduct an emissions inventory across two Ohio River ports, and to set an emissions reduction strategy with precise targets.

In Mississippi, the Port of Gulfport will receive $1.85 million to completely update its emission inventory, develop a new emissions strategy, engage with the community through a public form, and conduct a workforce skills gap analysis.

In Florida, Broward County will receive $300,000 for Port Everglades to update its 2015 emissions inventory with a new methodology and data to analyse 2015-to-2024 reductions, plan further air emissions reduction strategies, and hold stakeholder engagement with the nearby communities and workforce