The EPA has chosen 55 candidates throughout 27 states and territories to obtain almost $3 billion in grant funding by the company’s Clear Ports Program. These grants are geared toward enhancing air high quality by supporting the deployment of zero-emission gear and related infrastructure.
“As we speak’s historic $3-billion funding builds on President Biden’s imaginative and prescient of rising our financial system whereas guaranteeing America leads in globally aggressive options of the long run,” stated EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Delivering cleaner applied sciences and assets to US ports will slash dangerous air and local weather air pollution whereas defending individuals who work in and stay close by port communities.”
In February, the EPA introduced two separate funding alternatives for US ports: a Zero-Emission Know-how Deployment Competitors to instantly fund zero-emission gear and infrastructure to cut back cell supply emissions; and a Local weather and Air High quality Planning Competitors to fund local weather and air high quality planning actions.
After a rigorous utility evaluate course of, the EPA chosen 55 functions to obtain this funding. Purposes to the Clear Ports Program have been evaluated partially on their workforce improvement efforts, to make sure that initiatives will develop entry to high-quality jobs.
Chosen initiatives cowl a variety of kit used at and round ports—funding will help the acquisition of zero-emission gear, together with over 1,500 items of cargo dealing with gear, 1,000 drayage vans, 10 locomotives and 20 vessels, in addition to shore energy programs, battery-electric and hydrogen automobile charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar energy era.
The company estimates that utilizing the brand new gear will cut back emissions by over 3 million metric tons of CO2, 12,000 brief tons of NOx, and 200 brief tons of PM2.5 within the first 10 years of operation—not together with advantages from retiring older automobiles.
Chosen initiatives embrace:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has been chosen to obtain $344,138,000 for a undertaking that features the deployment of electrical cargo dealing with gear and drayage vans with supporting charging infrastructure. The undertaking additionally consists of the set up of vessel shore energy infrastructure.
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority has been chosen to obtain an anticipated $21,906,000 for a undertaking on the Port of Detroit, which can embrace the deployment of battery-electric cargo dealing with gear, vessels and railcar movers, together with charging gear and photo voltaic arrays.
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has been chosen to obtain an anticipated $48,764,000 to improve the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore energy programs. These programs will enable ships to plug in to electrical grid energy and switch off auxiliary diesel engines whereas in port. The undertaking additionally consists of the alternative of diesel terminal tractors with new electrical terminal tractors and the set up of electrical charging infrastructure.
The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority has been chosen to obtain an anticipated $77,651,000 to deploy zero-emission port gear, together with cargo dealing with gear and related charging infrastructure.
The Port Division of the Metropolis of Oakland has been chosen to obtain an anticipated $322,168,000 to deploy zero-emission expertise on the Port of Oakland. Challenge actions embrace the deployment of electrical and hydrogen cargo dealing with gear, drayage vans, charging infrastructure and a battery vitality storage system.
Most of the initiatives embrace the scrappage of present diesel-powered gear, and all embrace neighborhood engagement actions, workforce coaching on zero-emission gear, and efforts to develop entry to high-quality jobs in near-port communities.
The company anticipates making awards as soon as all authorized, statutory and administrative necessities are happy. Selectees will work with EPA over the approaching months to finalize undertaking plans earlier than receiving remaining awards and shifting into the implementation section. Challenge implementation is predicted to happen over the subsequent three to 4 years.
Supply: EPA
