Clean Ports Program

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that helps our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

• View the public law text (see pp. 248-249 of the PDF version for the Clean Ports Program).
• To access the text in Spanish, you can view the Ports Initiative Nov. 7 Newsletter.(Para acceder al texto en español, puede ver el Boletín sobre la Iniciativa de Puertos del 7 de noviembre.)

For more information on technical resources and other funding opportunities to help reduce diesel emissions at ports, visit EPA’s Ports Initiative webpage.

• Technical Request for Information (RFI) – open through June 5
• Other Public Engagement
• Program Elements

Technical Request for Information (RFI)

EPA has announced a technical Request for Information (RFI) on zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles and port equipment to inform the development of the new Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Clean Ports Programs in the Inflation Reduction Act. EPA invites manufacturers, fleets, ports, municipalities, school districts, utilities, and other stakeholders with zero-emission technology experience or understanding to respond to this RFI, by June 5, 2023.

EPA is specifically requesting information on the following technologies:

• Zero-emission class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., electric or fuel cell delivery trucks, refuse trucks, utility trucks, school buses, and day cab tractors).
• Zero-emission port equipment (e.g., electric or fuel cell dray trucks, harbor craft, locomotives, and cargo handling equipment).
• Associated charging and other fueling infrastructure.

For these different zero-emissions technologies, EPA is requesting information on:

• Availability including manufacturer production capacity.
• Performance including durability and maintenance requirements.
• Pricing including payback period and lifecycle costs relative to those operating on conventional fuels.
• Practical considerations for program design including project development best practices and workforce training needs.

Respondents are also requested to explain if equipment and components are currently manufactured in the United States or expect to be in the near future. Responses will help EPA understand the availability of U.S. manufactured equipment and components to better create targeted funding programs and address Build America Buy America requirements.

This information will also help inform EPA in discussions with other federal, state, and private sector stakeholders in helping determine approaches in supporting different funding opportunities.

Request for Information on the Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs (published May 8, 2023).

EPA requests responses to this technical RFI on or before June 5, 2023.

Other Public Engagement

EPA is seeking public input on how to design the Clean Ports funding program in the Inflation Reduction Act!

You are welcome to send written input on the Clean Ports Program design to cleanports@epa.gov.

EPA’s general Request for Information (RFI) on Inflation Reduction Act Provisions for Office of Air and Radiation Implementation closed on January 18, 2023.  You may view comments the Agency received on Clean Ports Program design in the Inflation Reduction Act Transportation Programs Non-Regulatory Docket for Public Input.

EPA also held two public listening sessions in November and December 2022 on how to design the new Clean Ports Program. These sessions began with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session.

EPA asked attendees of those listening sessions to share their feedback on the following questions:

1. What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
2. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
3. How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
4. How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
5. How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

EPA recorded both sessions in English and Spanish.

Access the Clean Ports Program listening session materials.

English recording and slides now available from the March 13^thAdvancing Environmental Justice in Near-Port Communities Webinar.

Program Elements

New $3 billion EPA program to fund grants and rebates to:

• Purchase or install zero-emission port equipment or technology;
• Conduct any relevant planning or permitting in connection with the purchase or installation of such zero-emission port equipment or technology; and
• To develop qualified climate action plans that:
  • Establishes goals, implementation strategies, and accounting and inventory practices to reduce emissions of GHGs, criteria air pollutants, and hazardous air pollutants at one or more ports,
  • Includes stakeholder collaboration/communications strategy to address potential effects of plan on stakeholders, including low income and disadvantaged near-port communities, and
  • Describes measures to increase resiliency of port
• $750M of total funding to be spent in nonattainment areas
• Funding available until September 30, 2027

Eligible funding recipients include:

• Port authority
• State, regional, local, or Tribal agency that has jurisdiction over a port authority or port
• Air pollution control agency
• Private entity that:
  • Applies in partnership with an eligible entity above, and
  • Owns, operates, or uses facilities, cargo-handling equipment, transportation equipment, or related technology of a port.