Biden Floats Zero Emission Ports With $3 Billion in Grants

Biden Floats Zero Emission Ports With $3 Billion in Grants

Americans who live near shipping ports have been breathing some of the dirtiest air in the country, polluted by toxic diesel emissions from trucks, cargo-handling equipment, and ships. But that polluted era is coming to an end. This week the Biden-Harris Administration offered historic levels of funding for ports in 27 states and territories.

Forum-Mobility-man-charging-truck
A driver at Hight Logistics, a drayage operator at the Port of Long Beach, California, plugs in an electric truck at a charging station operated by Forum Mobility. 2024 (Photo courtesy Forum Mobility)

Americans who live near shipping ports have been breathing some of the dirtiest air in the country, polluted by toxic diesel emissions from trucks, cargo-handling equipment, and ships working at ports. But that polluted era is coming to an end. The ports themselves have long been seeking the funds to modernize operations, and this week the Biden-Harris Administration responded with historic levels of funding for ports in 27 states and territories.

On October 29, 2024, during the annual convention of the American Association of Port Authorities representing more than 130 public port authorities in the Americas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the long-anticipated awards.

EPA named 55 applicants across 27 states and territories selected to receive nearly $3 billion in grants through EPA’s Clean Ports Program. 

President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with the $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. The initiative is being promoted by the administration as “the largest investment in combating climate change and promoting clean energy in U.S. history.”

“Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. “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.”

As the grants are delivered in December, the Port of Los Angeles, the country’s busiest, will receive the largest grant, $411.69 million, and six other California ports will also receive substantial grants to fund their modernization. The Ports of New York and New Jersey will get $344 million, the Port of Philadelphia will receive $78 million, the Georgia Port Authority will get $49 million for the Port of Savannah, and the Port of Detroit will get $21 million.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris entered office with a vision to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and tackle the climate crisis in a way that would create good-paying and union jobs and uplift the communities who’ve borne the brunt of pollution,” John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for International Climate Policy, said. “The EPA Clean Ports program is one of the best examples of their vision come to life.”

Ports on the U.S. East, West and Gulf coasts will receive funding to replace diesel with battery-electric equipment, workforce development, and planning for sustainability. To see a complete list of all 55 approved port electrification grants, click here.

California Gets a Third of the Total

California’s ports handle about 40 percent of the nation’s containerized imports and 30 percent of America’s exports, so California ports will receive a full third of the Clean Ports funding.

These funds are key to Governor Gavin Newsom’s agenda to build more infrastructure more quickly.

“Thanks to historic support from the Biden-Harris Administration and our state’s Congressional leaders, California’s ports are undergoing a rapid transition to become zero-emission. Cleaner ports means cleaner air for communities up and down our state. This is a huge win for our ports that are the backbone of the fifth largest economy in the world.”

At the Port of Los Angeles, the new funding will cover 425 pieces of battery electric, human-operated ZE cargo-handling equipment, installing 300 new ZE charging ports and related infrastructure, and deploying 250 ZE battery-electric drayage trucks, and vessel shore power equipment. The project includes $50 million for a community-led ZE workforce development and engagement program.

“This transformative investment will be key in accelerating the transition to zero emissions across the port industry and our commitment to cleaner air for future generations,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

“Thank you, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, for your support of our vision of a zero-emission future,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “With this funding, the nation’s busiest port will be able to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Together, in partnership with the federal government, industry, labor, and environmental justice groups, we are building a greener and healthier Los Angeles. L.A. will continue to lead on innovative infrastructure and sustainability.”

Port of Los Angeles — $411.69 million: This project aims to accelerate the port’s transition toward ZE on-terminal operations by reducing air pollution in and around the port, deploying zero emission (ZE) cargo handling equipment, and enhancing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Port of Los Angeles and its private sector partners will match the EPA grant with an additional $236 million, bringing the total new investment in ZE programs at the Port of Los Angeles to $644 million.

“This EPA grant and the matching funds to be provided by marine terminals and the Port are critical components in tackling our zero-emission goals,” Mike Jacob, president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, said. “These important funds put an exclamation mark on the progress that has already been made by the maritime industry in our long-term partnership with the Port of Los Angeles, resulting in diesel particulate matter reductions of -91 percent and sulfur oxides by -98 percent since 2005 in Southern California.”

In November 2023, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles made $60 million in Clean Truck Fund Rate funding available through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project for vouchers toward the purchase of zero-emission, Class 8 drayage trucks to operate at the San Pedro Bay ports complex. 

Each port is providing $30 million through the Clean Truck Fund Rate, which collects fees from cargo owners on loaded containers entering and exiting the port complex. The CTF Rate is a key component of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan goal of 100 percent zero-emissions drayage trucks by 2035.

“The San Pedro Bay ports move the goods that power our economy. This historic investment of over $400 million in the Port of Los Angeles is a monumental step forward in accelerating the zero-emission infrastructure transition,” said U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re decarbonizing our supply chain to produce cleaner air and protect public health in Southern California communities while building toward our essential zero-emission goals.”

Other California ports receiving funding from the new federal Clean Ports Program are:

Port of Oakland — $322.17 million: This project will reduce emissions and decarbonize port activities by transitioning to ZE alternatives for drayage trucks that transport cargo short distances, and cargo handling equipment. 

Port of Stockton — $110.47 million: This project will transform the port into the first small port with ZE terminal operations and increase the ZE workforce in Northern California.

Port of San Diego — $58.6 million: This project will support the port’s longstanding commitment to the electrification of San Diego’s maritime cargo handling facilities and freight transportation. It will implement the final electrification to transform San Diego’s maritime cargo terminals and goods movement on San Diego Bay.

Port of San Francisco — $55.39 million: This investment will transition ferry operations along the San Francisco waterfront to zero emissions, removing 455,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases and enhancing air quality at the Port of San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area airshed. Clean Ports Program funding will replace a diesel-powered ferry with a zero-emission battery electric ferry vessel, install a battery energy storage system equipment, upgrade the electrical infrastructure, and install a shore power charging system for the new vessels.

Port of Hueneme — $42.29 million: The Port of Hueneme will be able to plan for the transformation activities, and deploy about 35 pieces of ZE terminal equipment and a drayage truck incentive program.

Port of Redwood City — $1.97 million: This project, in partnership with a private entity, includes climate and air quality planning for hydrogen-based fueling and infrastructure.

East Coast Ports Granted Substantial Funding

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was selected to receive $347 million from the Biden-Harris Clean Ports Fund to bolster the ports’ sustainability and community outreach efforts = the largest sustainability award to date for these ports. Local governors are grateful.

“In New Jersey, we’re committed to a cleaner, healthier future – and that starts with reducing air pollution, building charging infrastructure, and creating new green jobs at the port,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat. “I’m thankful to the Biden-Harris administration and our partners at the EPA for supporting our commitment to a zero-emissions future that combats climate change and protects public health.”

“The Port Authority has made the nation-leading commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and this award goes a long way to making that vision a reality,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat. “With this critical funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, Port Liberty will become a greener and safer place to work on Staten Island, improving the lives of the hundreds of New Yorkers who work there every day.”

“We appreciate the recognition and support from our government and community partners to ensure the critical work at the Port of New York and New Jersey is accomplished with an eye toward the future,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This funding will reverberate well beyond the docks, allowing us to work together with nearby communities to ensure that the busiest port on the East Coast sets a new standard for collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.”

Evaluations Emphasized Workforce Training

Applications to the Clean Ports Program for funding were evaluated in part on their workforce development efforts, to ensure that projects will expand access to high-quality jobs.

Selected projects cover a wide range of human-operated and human-maintained equipment used at and around ports. Funds will purchase 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.

In support of its goal to achieve 100 percent ZE terminal operations by 2030, the Port of Los Angeles, with assistance from the ILWU and several of its private sector tenant-partners, submitted the EPA grant application in May. A coalition of over 100 elected officials, public agencies, business groups, environmental justice, community and labor organizations supported the application.

“The men and women of the ILWU are thrilled to learn of this over $400 million investment, by the U.S. EPA, in the environmental and economic well-being of our members and local community,” said Gary Herrera, president, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local13.

“HUMAN OPERATED, ZERO-EMISSION CARGO-HANDLING EQUIPMENT IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR MARITIME PORT OPERATIONS NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT PROTECTS GOOD JOBS WHILE CLEANING THE AIR BUT IS ALSO THE MOST EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF PORT OPERATIONS, WHILE ADDITIONALLY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS AGAINST CYBER THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.”
– Gary Herrea, President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 13.

The position of the International Longshoremen’s Union is important now, given that the union struck 14 U.S. seaports on October 1 and only came to a temporary agreement with employers at the ports that will last until mid-January, when the strike could resume over issues of automation and wages.

One Funded Port Is Landlocked, Others Stretch From Puerto Rico to Guam

The most unusual grant goes not to a coastal port, but to one in the middle of the United States.

The landlocked Utah Inland Port Authority will receive nearly $2.4 million for an emissions inventory, emissions reduction strategy, workforce impact analysis and stakeholder engagement at the Salt Lake City Intermodal Terminal. The transport hub in Salt Lake City, Utah is served by three rail lines, and long-distance Greyhound Bus Lines, as well as local bus services and a bike-sharing service.

The far-flung ports have not been neglected. In Alaska the Port of Seward will receive $45.7 million to install vessel shore power, a battery energy storage system, and electrical infrastructure upgrades.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation will get $2.5 million to do an emissions inventory across nine Hawaii ports, deliver recommendations and strategies for emissions reductions and engage with near-port communities.

Far out in the Pacific Ocean, 1,800 miles (2,900km) from China, the Port Authority of Guam will receive $2.4 million to do an emissions inventory, develop an emissions reduction strategy and implementation plan, and conduct a workforce development impact analysis and community engagement as well as a climate change vulnerability assessment.

In the Caribbean, the Port of San Juan Puerto Rico will get $1.8 million to conduct an emissions inventory and projected “business as usual” emissions inventories for 2030/2050, develop emissions reductions strategies focused on vehicles, engage with stakeholders, and develop a resiliency plan to protect infrastructure on this island, which is subject to increasingly frequent and destructive storms.

clean-ports-2024-map
Map shows location of ports that will receive grants from the Clean Ports program, 2024 (Map courtesy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Cleaner Air, Healthier Port Neighbors

Initial estimates of tailpipe reductions from this new equipment are estimated to be over three million metric tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), 12,000 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 200 tons of fine particulate matter in the first 10 years of operation. 

Today, people living in frontline communities breathe unsafe air and face elevated risks of heart and lung disease, cancer, and premature death, according to a February 2024 analysis by the California office of the public interest environmental law firm Earthjustice.

At the Port of Oakland, California, for example, emissions from freight activity are among the top contributors to cancer risks in West Oakland, the neighborhood adjacent to the port. West Oakland residents are also 99 percent more likely to have asthma than other Californians, and residential blocks nearest to the port show the highest rates of air pollution-associated heart disease.

Similarly, in southern California, the life expectancy in near-port neighborhoods like West Long Beach is eight years shorter than the Los Angeles County average.

“This infusion of $3 billion to electrify port trucks and port operations around the nation should help usher in a new era of moving goods in the U.S. without pumping pollution into portside communities,” said Paul Cort, director of Earthjustice’s Right To Zero campaign. “We want to see ports now quickly jump into action and build detailed blueprints for how they will use these funds to shape a zero-emissions future.”

The 55 grant selections align with the administration’s national goal for a zero-emission freight sector, the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, and the ‘all-of government’ National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, issued in April 2024, according to the U.S. EPA.

“Decarbonizing our nation’s ports is one of the many ways President Biden and Vice President Harris’s investment agenda is helping cut pollution and create good-paying union jobs,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said.

“THE COMMUNITIES BEING UPLIFTED BY THESE GRANTS PROVIDE PROOF POINTS FOR HOW GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CAN BE GOOD ECONOMIC POLICY. BY ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN EVERY SECTOR OF OUR GROWING ECONOMY, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO POSITION OUR NATION TO LEAD THE GLOBAL CLEAN ENERGY RACE, WHILE PROTECTING ALL COMMUNITIES – ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE FRONTLINE AND THE FENCE LINE – FROM HARMFUL POLLUTION IN THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE WATER WE DRINK.”
– Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor

Sources: Statements from: Michael Regan, John Podesta, Gavin Newsom, Gene Seroka, Karen Bass, Mike Jacob, Alex Padilla, Phil Murphy, Kathy Hochul, Kevin O’Toole, Gary Herrera, Paul Cort, Ali Zaidi; additional information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The White House, Port of Los Angeles, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Earthjustice

Tags: port, ports, seaports, shipping ports, shipping, Port Authority, freight, emissions, zero emissions, emissions inventory, workforce development, Clean Ports, grants, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Inflation Reduction Act, health, life expectancy, heart disease, air pollution, vessel shore power, drayage trucks, battery-electric

By Sunny Lewis, journalist, founder of Environment News Service (ENS) at: ens-newswire.com, and expert in the field of sustainable mobility in the United States and around the Pacific Rim.

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