For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
EPA Clean Ports Program Awards Funding for 4 NY/NJ/DE Port Projects:
Massive Win for Climate and Regional Air Quality
Yesterday, the Biden-Harris administration announced the awardees of its $3 billion Clean Ports Program, to address pollution at ports and freight hubs across the country. These Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds will enable ports to reduce diesel pollution by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, making it one of the IRA’s most significant clean transportation programs. The Clean Port Program selections are available to view online here.
The Clean Ports Program awarded funds to the NJ/NY/DE area for the following projects:
- $344,138,135 to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that will fund electric cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, and vessel shore power.
- $127,510,094 will go to the Port of Wilmington in Delaware to fund electric cargo handling equipment and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- $54,954,000 to SeaStreak LLC in the Atlantic Highlands that will fund electric vessels, battery energy storage systems, and vessel shore power.
- $3,000,000 to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that will fund an emissions inventory and community-centric air monitoring project, Formal community and independent truck owner engagement, and an emissions reduction strategy analysis to create a plan to reduce future port emissions.
- $540,000 will go to Delaware River and Bay Authority in Cape May to fund an emissions inventory covering all aspects of ferry operations, an emissions reduction strategy analysis, and resilience planning and evaluation.
In response to the announcement of the Clean Ports Program grants today, Sierra Club’s New Jersey, Delaware, and New York Chapters released the following statements:
“The New Jersey Sierra Club is thrilled to see this incredible funding from the IRA come to our ports in the tri-state area, which are some of the nation's busiest. This will bring massive relief to communities in North and South Jersey who suffer everyday from the impacts of diesel emissions and port pollution, and take the necessary steps to cut carbon emissions from our port infrastructure,” said NJ Sierra Club Director, Anjuli Ramos-Busot. “These dollars will make tangible our transition to zero-emission technologies and modernize our ports to allow for a more safe, clean, and sustainable transfer of goods and services. Additionally, the installation of such technology will also create new high-quality, union, green jobs for New Jerseyans. This is a win-win-win for the environment, economy, and our communities, and we thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their investment in our clean future.”
“Ports are the lifeblood of New York City, but the air pollution they produce can endanger the most vulnerable New Yokers with asthma, pulmonary ailments, and other respiratory diseases. This degradation of public health undermines the economic benefit of our shipping terminals and risks the lives of the workers that keep our supply chains moving,” said Jessica Enzmann, Senior Field Organizing Representative for New York. “The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter welcomes this infusion of federal dollars to reduce diesel emissions at our busiest ports through the electrification of cargo trucks, forklifts, drayage equipment and advanced electric shore power. The Biden-Harris administration continues to fund meaningful solutions to some of the most difficult challenges created by the climate crisis and we are grateful for their attention in New York.”
“The Sierra Club Delaware Chapter has been working in partnership with community members and a local coalition, the Delaware Community Benefits Agreement Coalition, to secure a community benefit agreement and help clean up and electrify the Port of Wilmington for several years,” said Sierra Club Delaware Chapter Director, Dustyn Thompson. “So we are very encouraged to see funding coming to support this initiative from the federal government. All too often, diesel trucks are finding their way into the communities around the port, compounding the particulate matter emissions coming from the port itself. Anything we can do to help electrify port operations and encourage fleets doing business with the port to make the transition to electrified vehicles will provide relief and provide a multitude of health benefits to these vulnerable neighborhoods.”
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