Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to receive an anticipated $344,138,135 through EPA’s Clean Ports Program for its proposed project, Catalyzing Change: Zero-Emissions NY-NJ Port Projects for a Greener Future. This project will support the installation of zero-emission equipment and promote good-paying and union jobs at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The grant is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the most substantial climate change and clean energy legislation in history. Senator Gillibrand was an original cosponsor and champion of the standalone legislation (the Climate Smart Ports Act) to create the Clean Ports Program, and she helped secure its enactment as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
According to the EPA, PANYNJ’s proposed project “includes the deployment of electric cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks with supporting charging infrastructure, including through a ZE Equipment for Ports (ZEEP) Voucher Incentive Program and Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) program. PANYNJ commits to reducing the number of polluting vehicles at the port by scrapping a portion of the existing fleet. The project also includes the installation of vessel shore power infrastructure. As part of this project, PANYNJ will implement a comprehensive community engagement plan and train workers to operate and maintain new equipment and infrastructure.”
In addition to the over $344 million grant for the zero-emission technology deployment project, EPA selected PANYNJ to receive $3,000,000 to support a proposed climate and air quality project, which is also through EPA’s Clean Ports Program.
“I fought hard to secure $3 billion via the Inflation Reduction Act for the EPA to fund a new program for zero-emission port equipment and to modernize infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at ports across the country,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m proud to announce more than $344 million—the second largest award in the country—for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to deploy zero-emission equipment, install charging equipment, and train workers for new green jobs. This substantial federal investment will help transform Port Liberty NY on Staten Island by replacing harmful diesel-powered equipment with zero-emission electric infrastructure.”
“This over $347 million investment in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will lay the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable future,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will promote the use of zero-emission equipment and clean power, as well as train workers for the green energy jobs of the future. I am proud to have helped secure the creation of the transformative Clean Ports Program in the Inflation Reduction Act and am thrilled about today’s historic investment. Not only are we improving air quality and combating climate change, but we’re creating good-paying jobs and putting New York and the United States in position to lead in global clean energy.”
The selection of the PANYNJ projects was announced as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, which today announced nearly $3 billion of investments in Clean Ports.
###