The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the launch of a $3bn clean ports program to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.
The EPA is releasing two separate notice of funding opportunities. First, the nearly $2.8bn zero-emission technology deployment competition will directly fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at US ports. Eligible uses of funding include human-operated and maintained zero-emission cargo handling equipment, harbour craft and other vessels, electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and several other technology investments.
A further approximate $150m climate and air quality planning competition will fund climate and air quality planning activities at US ports — including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification.
“Communities living near America’s ports have borne the brunt of some of the worst air pollution coming from shipping, trucking, and maritime industries,” said John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for international climate policy. “Today’s historic announcement from EPA is an investment in a cleaner, healthier future for those communities.”
In November last year, the Biden administration earmarked $653m for port development across the US, something that is part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in American history – nearly $17bn through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Earlier this month, Biden signed an executive order giving the coast guard greater powers to police cyber security at ports, as well as setting in place a plan to replace the nation’s Chinese-built port cranes with Japanese ones over concerns they could be fitted with spy devices. Biden has earmarked $20bn over the next five years to get Chinese cranes replaced by a US subsidiary of Mitsui.