The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) today congratulated the ports awarded 55 grants across 27 states and territories from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program.
These funds will support the purchase of zero emission equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation.
“From the earliest stages of legislative development in Congress, America’s ports have been ecstatic about and committed to the vision of implementing a novel grant program for the port industry that will complement and strengthen existing plans to diversify how we power our ports,” stated Cary S. Davis, AAPA President and CEO. “These grant funding awards will usher in a cleaner and more resilient future for our ports and national transportation system.”
“Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “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.”
Now that these awards are announced, AAPA will continue working with EPA to ensure an efficient grant obligation process. Finally, through the implementation of cutting-edge projects, ports will once again show the Federal Government, the transportation industry, and port communities that a dollar invested in ports is a dollar well spent.
As the funding from the IRA comes to a close, the 55 Clean Ports Program awards will speak for themselves through emissions mitigated and technological progress. These awards will demonstrate to Congress that the Clean Ports Program should become permanent with annual appropriations.
A major beneficiary is the Maryland Port Administration, receiving $147 million for implementation and planning. The funding will enable the purchase of zero-emission equipment, installation of charging infrastructure, and power improvements, supporting over 2,000 jobs in the process.
The announcement is part of the Biden Administration’s broader Investing in America agenda, which has already delivered over $13 billion for projects that include the $4.7 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel replacement and $213 million for modernizing light rail vehicles. Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore upon being rammed by a containership last March, which killed six workers and halted port traffic, President Biden pledged his Administration’s full support to reopen the Port of Baltimore. “Today, port workers are back on the job, once again moving more than 100,000 tons of cargo per day,” the White House said.
Other notable projects include a $344 million grant to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for its “Catalyzing Change: Zero-Emissions NY-NJ Port Projects for a Greener Future” initiative, and a $322 million investment in the Port of Oakland for electric and hydrogen cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, and battery energy storage systems.
(Photo of the Port of NY/NJ)
