EPA announces $2.7M clean ports investments in Oregon

EPA's Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure, and planning projects to tackle climate change, reduce air pollution, and advance environmental justice

October 29, 2024

SEATTLE- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Port of Portland wasselected to receive $2,772,684 million through EPA's Clean Ports Program.The Port of Portlandwill use the funding to complete an emissions inventory and alternative energy/fuels analysis, create an emissions reductions strategy, update its port resilience plan with zero emissions technology, and conduct workforce planning.

The grant is funded by the 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.

"Ports in the Pacific Northwest have for years provided access to global markets and been economic engines supporting thousands of jobs," said Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller. "This funding, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will supercharge efforts to transition port operations to cleaner, zero-emissions solutions that benefit air quality surrounding port communities and advance our collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis."

"Ports are a crucial part of keeping the economies of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest flowing as they move goods throughout our region and export our amazing Oregon products around the world," said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). "This federal funding will provide crucial support to the Port of Portland's plans to cut down on pollution and transition to zero-emission operations, a big win in our fight against climate chaos."

"The Port of Portland plays an integral role in many Oregonians' travel plans, and also a crucial element for small Oregon businesses who depend on the Port to ship their Oregon-grown goods around the world," said Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "Ensuring the Port of Portland has the long-term tools it needs to build a strong, resilient port Oregonians can depend on today and into the future is vital for our economy and quality of life."

"This funding is a game-changer for planning a greener future at our marine terminals, from zero-emissions equipment to new renewable power and clean fuel options for the vessels our terminals serve,"said Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold.

Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods andpeople 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.

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.