Clean Ports Program
Announcement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded 51 grants for nearly $3 billion in Clean Ports Program funding. Learn about the awards.
Clean Ports grantees can now use the Clean Ports Program: Grantee Resources page to access materials to support grant implementation, including key documents, trainings, questions and answers, and technical resources.
- About the Clean Ports Program
- Notices of Funding Opportunities (Closed)
- Important Dates
- Documents
- Eligible Applicants
- Eligible Activities
- Tools and Resources for Applicants
- Build America, Buy America: Office of Transportation and Air Quality
About the Clean Ports Program
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as related planning at U.S. ports. This funding program builds on EPA’s Ports Initiative to help deliver cleaner air for all Americans while advancing next-generation technology at our nation’s ports, which are critical to our country’s infrastructure and supply chain.
EPA is administering 51 grants at U.S. ports located in 24 states and territories. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.
Clean Ports Program goals:
- Build a foundation for the port sector to continue to make progress in reducing air pollution from operations, positioning ports to lead on air quality improvements across the freight sector.
- Reduce emissions in and around ports.
- Help ensure that meaningful stakeholder engagement and emissions reduction planning become a part of port industry standard practices.
Notices of Funding Opportunities - (Closed)
EPA application period for the Clean Ports Program grant funding is closed. Refer to the Clean Ports Awards page page for information on awards made under these grant funding opportunities.
Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition
EPA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition in February 2024 to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at U.S. ports, delivering cleaner air for communities across the country.
Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition
EPA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition in February 2024 to fund planning activities at U.S. ports, including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and resiliency measure identification, all of which will build the capacity of port stakeholders to continue to reduce emissions over time.
Important Dates for Funding Competitions
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Notices of Funding Opportunities Open | Wednesday, February 28, 2024 |
| Webinar: Overview of EPA’s Clean Ports Program Funding Opportunities | Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM (ET) |
| Optional Notice of Intent to Apply Due to cleanports@epa.gov (Closed) | Thursday, March 28, 2024 (Closed) |
| Deadline for comments on proposed BABA Waiver (Closed) | Monday, April 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET) (Closed) |
| Deadline for Submitting Questions (Closed) | Monday, May 6, 2024 (Closed) |
| NOFOs Close – Applications Due (Closed) | Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET) (Closed) |
| Notification of Selection | October 2024 |
| Awards Finalized | December 2024 – January 2025 |
Documents
Application Attachments
- Standard Form SF 424 (pdf) (102 KB) – Application for Federal Assistance
- Standard Form SF 424A (pdf) (138 KB) – Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs
- EPA Form 4700-4 (pdf) (115 KB)– Pre-Award Compliance Review
- EPA Key Contacts Form (pdf) (44 KB) – Key Contacts Form
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Sample Project Narrative:
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Supplemental Application Template (xlsx)
- Optional: 2024 Clean Ports Program Utility Partnership Template (pdf)
Please note that the Supplemental Application Template was a required application attachment. This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2060-0754).
Application Reference Material
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Small Water Port Project Eligibility Information (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Dry Port Project Eligibility Information (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Disadvantaged Community County List (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Sample Scrappage Statement (pdf)
Eligible Applicants
The following entities were eligible to apply for both competitions under the Clean Ports Program:
- 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.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for the Planning Competition included:
- Emissions inventory and accounting practices (one or more required)
- Stakeholder collaboration and communication, including workforce planning analysis, with a focus on near-port communities
- Strategy analysis and goal-setting
- Resiliency planning
Eligible expenses for the Technology Competition include:
- ZE Mobile Equipment that Serves a Port
- Cargo handling equipment (e.g., terminal tractors, forklifts, top handlers, side picks, straddle carriers)
- Drayage trucks
- Locomotives and railcar movers
- Harbor craft and other vessels (e.g., commercial and Tribal fishing vessels, tugs, ferries, patrol boats, workboats, dredges, pilot boats, barges)
- ZE Infrastructure Serving Mobile Equipment
- Shore power for marine vessels
- Electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure as well as battery energy storage systems serving port equipment purchased as part of the applicant’s grant award
- Solar and wind power generation systems that are installed to primarily power mobile equipment, including port equipment purchased as part of the applicant’s grant award
- ZE Technology Deployment Support Activities
- Project-specific public engagement
- Safety planning, operational planning, workforce training, and protocol development
- Project management, administrative costs, and performance monitoring
- Collection and analysis of in-use operational data to optimize/refine technology implementation
- Infrastructure testing
- Permit application
Tools and Resources for Applicants
Technical Resources for Ports: A collection of resources from EPA’s Ports Initiative with tools focused on shore power, emissions inventories, operational strategies, fuel cell technologies (pdf) (3.6 MB, July 2022, EPA-420-R-22-013), and more.
Best Clean Air Practices at Ports: Information, tools, and real world examples of best clean air practices for port-wide planning, drayage trucks , rail facilities , ocean-going vessels , cargo-handling equipment , and harbor craft compiled by EPA’s Ports Initiative.
Community Port Collaboration: Resources developed by EPA’s Ports Initiative to support effective communication and engagement between the port industry, communities, and other port stakeholders. Tools include the Ports Primer for Communities, Community Action Roadmap, pilot projects, and more.