EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
10/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/29/2024 16:46
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1 Billion of Clean Ports Investments in California as Part of Investing America Agenda
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1 Billion of Clean Ports Investments in California as Part of Investing America Agenda
EPA's Clean Ports Program to fund 55 zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure, and planning projects across the nation to tackle climate change, reduce air pollution, promote good jobs, and advance environmental justice
October 29, 2024
Contact Information
Michael Brogan ([email protected])
415-295-9314
The grants are funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act - the largest investment in combating climate change and promoting clean energy in history- and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America's ports thrive.
"While ports of course serve an essential role for moving goods, the costs that they bring in terms of pollution and impacts on overburdened communities must be confronted," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "Replacing diesel-powered port and freight equipment with clean, zero-emission technologies will reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes in nearby communities, and advance the campaign to tackle climate change."
City of Los Angeles Harbor Department
The City of Los Angeles Harbor Department in California has been selected to receive an anticipated $411,688,296 to replace diesel-powered equipment with battery-electric cargo handling equipment, battery-electric drayage trucks, and vessel shore power equipment. To support this equipment, the project includes the purchase and installation of charging infrastructure, solar generation infrastructure, and battery energy storage systems. The project includes workforce development focused on the operation and maintenance of zero-emission equipment and community engagement to ensure that benefits are distributed equitably among stakeholders.
"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 to the EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration for their unprecedented support of our ambition."
Port Department of the City of Oakland
The Port Department of the City of Oakland has been selected to receive an anticipated $322,167,584 to purchase and deploy zero-emission technology at the Port of Oakland in California. Project activities include the deployment of electric and hydrogen cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, charging infrastructure, and a battery energy storage system, and the scrappage of a portion of the existing diesel fleet. The project includes community engagement activities, workforce training on zero-emission equipment, and efforts to expand access to high-quality jobs in near-port communities.
"The Port of Oakland thanks its broad community, industry, elected, regulatory and workforce coalition partners for making this EPA 'Clean Ports' grant possible," said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan. "These funds made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration will allow us to take another major step towards transforming our Port into a zero emissions model and delivering impressive workforce development and community benefits for Oakland and the region."
Oxnard Harbor District Port of Hueneme
The Oxnard Harbor District Port of Hueneme has been selected to receive an anticipated $41,076,293 to purchase and deploy electric cargo handling equipment and zero-emission drayage trucks, as well as related electric charging infrastructure and battery energy storage systems.The California port willcreate an incentive program for zero-emission drayage trucks, which will be developed in collaboration with industry and community stakeholders. The project includes the scrappage of a portion of the existing fleet to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. The project will also include community training about air quality and zero-emission equipment, as well as internshipsand opportunities for the local community to access high-quality jobs.In addition, Oxnard Harbor District Port of Hueneme has been selected to receive a Climate and Air Quality Planning Grant for an anticipated $1,211,600 at the Port of Hueneme in California. Expected activities include the development of an emissions inventory that includes greenhouse gases, a resiliency plan, and a workforce impact analysis. Development of an emissions reduction strategy and community air monitoring will be conducted in parallel with this project.
Port of Redwood City
The Port of Redwood City in California has been selected to receive a Climate and Air Quality Planning Grant for an anticipated $1,966,545. Expected activities include development of a baseline emissions inventory and emissions reductions strategy analysis with targets and actions through 2050. Additionally, the project calls for a resilience assessment and improvement plan. The development of a comprehensive public participation to engage stakeholders at each phase and a strategy for collaborative workforce development are key components of this project.
"The Port of Redwood City applauds the EPA for this investment to facilitate the long-range planning and create a roadmap towards decarbonization by diversifying fueling options of Port operations," said Port of Redwood City Executive Director Kristine A. Zortman. "This investment represents an opportunity to create new jobs in a transformative sector of energy production furthering our environmental stewardship, workforce development, and emissions reductions."
San Diego Unified Port District
The San Diego Unified Port District has been selected to receive an anticipated $58,600,279 to purchase and deploy zero-emission technology at Port of San Diego in California. The project will electrify operations at the port's two maritime cargo terminals. Project activities will include the purchase and deployment of zero-emission cargo handling equipment, electric vessels, and associated electrical infrastructure, as well as scrappage of existing diesel equipment. The project will expand access to training and employment opportunities for individuals in low-income and disadvantaged areas, and engage local communities through a steering committee.
Port of San Francisco
The Port of San Francisco has been selected to receive an anticipated $55,386,000 to complete the San Francisco Waterfront Emissions-Free Ferry System, which services critical transportation hubs along the San Francisco waterfront and two terminals located in Alameda County, California. Clean Ports Program funding will be used to 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. A regional maritime workforce development program will train participants in the marine trades and water transportation fields, including operating and maintaining ZE ferries and harbor craft. The Port will also collect feedback from the local community in various ways throughout the project.Stockton Port District
The Stockton Port District has been selected to receive an anticipated $110,469,349 to purchase and deploy zero-emission technology at the Port of Stockton in California. Project activities include the deployment of electric cargo handling equipment, charging equipment, rooftop solar power, and battery energy storage, along with the scrappage of diesel-powered cargo handling equipment. The project will result in one of the first shore power systems for tanker vessels, delivering emission reductions across two air districts and reducing impacts on communities heavily impacted by industrial operations. Investments in workforce training will lead to expanded access to high-quality jobs and the applicant commits to working with local communities by establishing a formal community engagement policy.
"The Clean Ports grant from the EPA is a game-changer for the Port of Stockton," said Port of Stockton Board of Commissioners Chair William Trezza. We look forward to leveraging this support to further our advancements in zero-emission equipment and foster a more sustainable future for all."
Clean Ports Program Background
Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods and people throughout the country. At the same time, the port and freight equipment responsible for moving goods including trucks, locomotives, marine vessels, and cargo-handling equipment contribute to significant levels of diesel air pollution at and near port facilities. This pollution is especially harmful to nearby communities' health and contributes to climate change. The funds announced today will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes' energy use for one year.
In February 2024, EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for U.S. ports - a Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and a Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities. The competitions closed in May 2024 with over $8 billion in requests from applicants across the country seeking to advance next-generation, clean technologies at U.S. ports.
After a thorough and rigorous grant application review process, EPA selected 55 applications in total to receive this historic investment. Applications to the Clean Ports Program were evaluated in part on their workforce development efforts, to ensure that projects will expand access to high-quality jobs. Grant selections also 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.
In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will protect and grow good-paying and union port jobs, create new good-paying and union jobs in the domestic clean energy sector, and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness through the innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program's historic investment in zero-emission port technology will also help promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.
EPA's Clean Ports Program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.
The agency anticipates making awards once all legal, statutory, and administrative requirements are satisfied. Selectees will work with EPA over the coming months to finalize project plans before receiving final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.
To learn more about the Clean Ports Program tentatively selected applications, please visit the Clean Ports Program Selections webpage.
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