The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a major investment of $4 billion in the electrification of ports across the United States. This funding is part of the Investing in America agenda and is aimed at boosting the development of zero-emission port equipment and technology, as well as helping ports reduce air pollution and improve air quality in neighboring communities.
Of the $4 billion investment, $3 billion will be provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund the development of zero-emission port equipment and technology. Additionally, this funding will help ports develop climate action plans aimed at reducing air pollutants and promoting environmental justice.
The EPA will also provide another $1 billion to reduce emissions from heavy-duty commercial vehicles, including those that operate in and out of ports. The aim of this funding is to reduce congestion, idling, and other related environmental problems caused by heavy-duty vehicles.
This historic investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits of federal investments go to climate change, clean energy, and other related areas. It builds on previous announcements made under the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, an interagency framework aimed at removing all emissions from the transportation sector by 2050.
The electrification of ports is seen as a crucial step towards achieving this goal, as ports are responsible for a significant amount of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. With this investment, the U.S. is now taking a major step towards reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has also recently made over $662 million in funding available for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to support projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports. This funding will also consider how projects address climate change and sustainability, equity, and workforce development objectives.
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