Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Port Houston and Port Freeport are awardees of the US EPA’s Clean Ports Program.

Happy Wednesday!  We hope you have been able to stay dry with all the little rain episodes we have been having today!

Congratulations to Port Houston and Port Freeport on being awarded federal funding from the EPA’s Clean Ports Program for their Climate and Air Quality Planning!

We hope you read our Blog yesterday when we spoke about the Port of Corpus Christi receiving federal funds from the EPA’s Clean Ports Program for their Zero-Emission Technology!

Did anyone happen to read gCaptain Daily Newsletter on October 30, 2024, their article titled, “Biden Just Announced $3B to Clean Up America’s Ports – Here Are Some of the Key Projects Getting Funding”?  The article speaks in regard to the 55 awardees from 27 states and territories who were awarded funding from the $3 billion U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program, and they give us a few highlighted projects.  The awardees and the EPA will formalize their projects and expected funding will be allocated in 2025.  The EPA’s Clean Port Program falls into two categories: Climate and Air Quality Planning (CAPQ) Competition and Zero-Emission Technology Deployment (ZE Tech) Competition.  The EPA’s Clean Port Program is aiming at reducing 3 million metric tons of carbon emissions which should improve the lives and health of the communities which live around and near these 27 ports. The Program’s ZE Tech category invited improvements by modernizing equipment and infrastructure.  They may use the funds to help buy zero-emission cargo handling equipment (CHE) or port equipment which may include electric or other renewable powered equipment like electric forklifts, electric locomotives, EV charging stations, hydrogen charging stations, and other upgrades like vessel shore power as well as help pay to train employees on their use and care.  The second category CAPQ the ports will be able to use the funds to investigate emissions to make or update an emissions inventory and then find possible ways to mitigate them by alternative energy sources and/or help with their Resiliency Planning for future weather.   The Clean Port Program is expecting to have the local communities and workforce engaged in these changes thus having a better relationship.

We will mention a few of the highlighted projects; please see the article for additional projects and details:

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ): $344 million - They were awarded funding for their ZE Tech improvements which include electric CHE and vessel shore power as well as helping them start their Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) program, and to train employees on the new equipment.

Port of Oakland: $322 million – They were awarded funding for the ZE Tech improvements which include electric and hydrogen CHE, and a battery storage system as well as having a workforce training program on the new equipment.

Port of Houston Authority (PORT HOUSTON): $3 million – They were awarded funding for their CAPQ program called PORT SHIFT which entails creating a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory then using it to help make an emission reduction plan with cost estimates as well as engaging the local community, its workforce, and the trucking industry in their emission reduction strategy. 

Ports of Indiana: $500,000 – They were awarded funding for their CAPQ program which they will be conducting emission inventory for two of their Ohio River ports then they will make an emission reduction plan.  

We would like to wish them luck in reducing their emissions and their transition to alternate energy sources!  If you would like to read more of gCaptain’s article, please click the link: Biden Just Announced $3B to Clean Up America's Ports — Here Are Some of the KeyProjects Getting Funding.

If you would like to see more of the awardees from the EPA’s Clean Port Program or read more about the program; please click the link: Clean Ports Program Selections | US EPA.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently and with less of a carbon footprint, contact us via the email in the Blog and check out our ESC's website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great week!  Keep dry!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the gCaptain’s article. **