Biden-Harris administration awards $3 billion in Clean Ports grants

On today’s awarding episode of Quick Charge, President Joe Biden takes a trip to Baltimore to announce $147 million in EPA awards to the city’s Ports, which will support electrification efforts, clean up carbon emissions, and support some 2,000 union jobs at the Port — but that’s just a small part of the larger, $3 billion announcement.

That $3 billion investment from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will be put to use nationally in the form of 55 award selectees across 27 states and territories (read: Puerto Rico), with the aim of modernizing and improving existing port infrastructure. At the same time, the funds will help port operators and drayage fleets electrify while combating the climate crisis.

The White House says the Clean Ports program will support an estimated 40,000 jobs across the nation’s economy, including new 6,500 manufacturing jobs. The awards are expected to increase demand for American-made electric cargo handling equipment at least six-fold over the life of the program.

That equipment could range from all-electric top handlers like these at the Port of Los Angeles, or the massive, 400-ton electric crane recently commissioned at the Port of San Diego — as well as providing for electric drayage trucks and the charging depots associated with them.

While a major economic driver, our nation’s ports are a major source of pollution for workers and surrounding communities. Communities living near ports and other transportation corridors are exposed to toxic pollution which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular harm, especially in children.

The funds announced today will support the purchase of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered human-operated and human-maintained equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems for ocean-going vessels, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation.

WHITE HOUSE

In addition to Port of Baltimore, other award winners are announcing theirs — including $322 million to Port of Oakland, $344 million to New Jersey, and over $127 million to Delaware. The entire awards list can be seen here.

Today’s Clean Ports announcement helps to advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, and aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s stated goal of creating a zero-emission freight sector.

Update: the podcast

In order to help walk me through drayage, shore power, and how we can overcome some of the hurdles surrounding cleaning up the ports, my friend Paul Gioupis from Zeem Solutions was kind enough to come on the show and talk it out.

SOURCE | IMAGES: White House; EPA.