Biden administration to spend $3 bn on cleaner ports

In order to support an estimated 40,000 jobs and lower pollution, the Biden administration has pledged $3 billion in funding to upgrade and electrify port infrastructure.

This money is given to 55 chosen recipients in 27 states and territories through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports awards.

In order to provide better air for port employees and the surrounding community, the investment will modernize port operations and infrastructure to cleaner machinery.

nearly the first 10 years of operation, the Clean Ports program will eliminate nearly three million metric tons of carbon emissions, which is the same amount of energy used by 391,220 residences for a year.

The money will be used to buy hydrogen-powered and battery-electric equipment, such as 20 ships, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and more than 1,500 cargo handling units.

Additionally, it will make it easier to purchase shore power systems for oceangoing vessels, infrastructure for charging and fueling battery-electric and hydrogen vehicles, and solar power generating.

Biden will make the announcement at the Port of Baltimore, which will get $147 million to buy drayage trucks and cargo handling equipment with zero emissions and help the port make the transition to a zero-emission facility.

Located on the East Coast, the Port of Baltimore is a busy import and export center for automobiles.

Everyday Port operations are supported by more over 20,000 unionized longshoremen and trucks.

Over $145 million will be awarded to the Maryland Port Administration’s Equipment Electrification and Terminal Decarbonization project to buy zero-emission drayage trucks and cargo handling equipment and help the port make the transition to a zero-emission facility.

In order to help the port set a course for future emissions reductions that would result in cleaner air for the port and surrounding communities, the project will also get a planning grant of about $2 million.