Federal Government Awards $3 Million in Climate Planning Funding to Port Houston

October 29, 2024

Federal Government Awards $3 Million in Climate Planning Funding to Port Houston

The Port's Application for a Separate $300M Grant to Fund Zero-Emissions Equipment was unsuccessful.

HOUSTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $3 million climate planning grant to the Port of Houston Authority as part of the federal agency's Clean Ports Program.

The funds, part of the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, will fund climate planning efforts, including community engagement, emissions inventory and other assessments of Port Houston infrastructure, workforce engagement and resiliency planning.

Houston's port authority also applied for $300 million to provide direct funding for zero-emissions equipment and other upgrades but was unsuccessful.

Allure Anoma of Public Citizen and a grants liaison for the Healthy Port Communities Coalition (HPCC), issued the following statement:

"These critical climate planning funds will help the Port of Houston Authority engage with the communities neighboring the Houston Ship Channel and plan for the modernization needed to ensure one of the largest ports in the country is reducing the impact on its neighbors and the changing climate. Port communities have for years said that the port's efforts to communicate with the people living near the ship channel must improve, and this grant will fund community engagement, for which the port has lots of work to do."

Leticia Gutierrez of Air Alliance Houston and a resident of a port community added the following on behalf of HPCC:

"Unfortunately, the port's other application was unsuccessful. It signals that Port Houston is not nationally competitive for significant funding opportunities. The port authority has made progress in collaborating with the surrounding port communities, and today's $3 million award reflects that. However, the unsuccessful application for the $300 million grant confirms that Houston is not yet a leader in clean freight technology."

About the Healthy Port Communities Coalition
HPCC advocates for healthy and prosperous Houston Ship Channel communities. The coalition's nine member organizations, which includes Public Citizen, work to expand transparency at Port Houston, reduce pollution through zero emissions technology, and protect people's health through protective standards and enforcement. HPCC recognizes the importance of an informed and active local community, and we provide information to residents so that they can advocate for themselves and their communities.

More about HPCC: healthyportcommunities.org