The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking technical input on the technologies needed for planned programs to invest $4 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for port upgrades and zero-emission vehicles to reduce pollution around the nation's ports, schools, and truck routes, a news release said.
The initiatives are part of the Biden Administration’s plan to rebuild infrastructure under its "Investing in America" agenda. Under the Clean Ports Program, the federal government would invest $3 billion in technologies to reduce pollutants and U.S. ports, with a target of zero-emission shipping. The Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program is a planned $1 billion investment in lowering vehicle emissions near ports, schools, and truck routes.
“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we are transforming our nation’s infrastructure for the better, all while protecting the health of underserved communities that are too often overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
Regan announced the funding and the request for public input alongside U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff during a visit to the Port of Savannah.
EPA had already given a $9 million Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant to the Georgia Ports Authority to replace older freight trucks, cargo handling equipment and marine engines. The new initiatives would take a further step. The Clean Ports Program would upgrade port infrastructure and invest in zero-emission equipment. The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program will support the replacement of heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission alternatives and developing charging and maintenance infrastructure for trucks idling at or near ports. The initiatives align with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, directing 40% of benefits to disadvantaged communities, the news release said.
“I continue working to upgrade Georgia’s port infrastructure and establish Georgia as the national leader in advanced energy technology,” Ossoff said. “I thank President Biden and Administrator Regan for their attention to Georgia’s ports and their support for Georgia’s economic development and environmental quality.”
The programs are part of President Biden's broader infrastructure plans, aimed at rebuilding the country, creating jobs, combatting climate change, and strengthening the clean energy sector. In its investments in zero-emission infrastructure and technology, the EPA focuses on protecting the environment, promoting economic prosperity and prioritizing communities.
The EPA Request for Information (RFI) seeks comments to help it better understand the availability of zero-emission trucks and port equipment, their charging and fueling infrastructure requirements, their commercial availability, market prices, and performance, and “to what degree the content and components of these systems are manufactured in the United States” to help it make decisions on which zero-emissions technologies the government should fund.
The deadline for submitting input is June 5.
