The Biden administration has selected 55 ports across 27 US states to receive $3 billion in grants for deploying net-zero infrastructure and technologies.

PHOTO: Ship docked in New York container terminal. Getty Images

Selected projects include the installation of shore power systems, renewable power charging and solar power generation, among other initiatives.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will receive around $344 million to install shore power systems for ships and to upgrade other port infrastructure. The Port of Oakland in California has been selected to receive around $322 million “to purchase and deploy zero-emission technology,” according to the Oakland Port Authority. It includes the deployment of electric and hydrogen cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks and charging infrastructure.

The Philadelphia Port Authority has been selected to receive approximately $77 million “to deploy zero-emission port equipment” across the Port of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

Similarly, the Georgia Ports Authority has been shortlisted to receive around $48 million to upgrade onshore power systems at the ports of Savannah and Brunswick in Georgia and to train port workers to use these systems, among other measures.

The Detroit Port Authority is set to receive $12 million for deploying battery-electric vessels, solar power generation and other emissions-reduction measures at the Port of Detroit in Michigan.

Other selected ports include Houston in Texas, Tacoma in Washington and San Juan in Puerto Rico.

The grants will be distributed through the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program.

“Initial estimates of tailpipe reductions from this new equipment are over 3 million metric tons of CO2, 12 thousand short tons of NOX, and 200 short tons of PM2.5 [fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller] within the first 10 years of operation,” the EPA projected.

According to US Energy Information Administration, short ton is a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds.

By Konica Bhatt

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