en.Wedoany.com Reported - The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced that port authorities across the country will receive assistance in purchasing zero-emission equipment, thanks to $3 billion in federal funding for decarbonizing operations.
These funds come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Clean Ports Program and will be distributed through 55 grants to 27 states and territories. With this funding, eligible ports plan to purchase over 1,500 cargo handling equipment units, 1,000 short-haul trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems, battery electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure, and solar power generation equipment.
For example, the Port of Los Angeles received a $412 million grant to support its goal of achieving 100% zero-emission (ZE) terminal operations by 2030. Following the grant, the port and its private sector partners will contribute an additional $236 million, bringing the total new investment in the Port of Los Angeles' zero-emission projects to $644 million. According to the Port of Los Angeles, this new funding will be used to purchase nearly 425 battery electric, manually operated zero-emission cargo handling equipment units, install 300 new zero-emission charging ports and other related infrastructure, and deploy 250 zero-emission short-haul trucks. The grant will also provide $50 million for a community-led zero-emission grant program, workforce development, and related engagement activities.
The Port of Oakland received $322 million through this grant, which, combined with contributions from the port and local partners, will total nearly $500 million. This represents the largest federal funding ever for a Bay Area project aimed at reducing emissions from seaport cargo operations. The grant will fund 663 zero-emission equipment units, including 475 short-haul trucks and 188 cargo handling equipment units.
The Port of Virginia stated that its $380 million in new funding will help achieve the goal of eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. This grant will be used to purchase and install electric assets and equipment while phasing out old equipment powered by gasoline or diesel engines.
According to AAPA, these grants will demonstrate to Congress that the Clean Ports Program should be made permanent through annual appropriations. Otherwise, as support from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) wanes, these funds will soon cease. AAPA President and CEO Cary Davis said in a statement that, from the early stages of congressional legislative development, U.S. ports have been delighted with and committed to the vision of implementing a novel grant program for the port industry, one that will complement and strengthen existing diversified port energy supply programs. These grants will bring a cleaner, more resilient future to ports and the national transportation system. The association thanked supporters in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to the port industry and looks forward to working closely with federal government partners to ensure these funds are quickly deployed and put into use.
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