FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2024
Contact: Lesley Paredes, lesley.paredes-hernandez@sierraclub.org; (240) 424-0976
Baltimore, MD – Yesterday, the Maryland Port Administration received $145 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program for purchase of zero-emission equipment and clean drayage trucks to help transition the Port of Baltimore to a zero-emission facility. The investment is estimated to support over 2,000 good paying and union jobs.
Communities that live near ports are exposed to dangerous pollution from ships, trucks, trains, and cargo handling equipment on a daily basis, and are more at risk of heart and lung disease, cancer, and premature death.
In response to the announcement of the Clean Ports Program grants, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director Josh Tulkin has released the following statement:
“We applaud the Moore administration for securing $145 million in federal funding to help reduce a major source of pollution from the Port of Baltimore by purchasing zero-emission drayage trucks and port equipment. Communities living near the ports are disproportionately impacted by toxic freight pollution that contributes to asthma, heart disease, and premature death. Large trucks that transport goods to and from the port contribute significantly to ozone and climate pollution. These grants will help Marylanders breathe easier and move the state closer to reaching its climate targets.”
As part of the grant award, the Port has committed to engaging with neighboring communities to coordinate on strategies related to this transition. We encourage the Port Administration to prioritize engaging communities with environmental justice concerns, workers, and organized labor as a part of this transition process.
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