The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will receive over $347 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, a fund created through the Inflation Reduction Act to support emissions reduction at major U.S. ports. The project, spearheaded by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and supported by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, will deploy zero-emission equipment at the port, establish new charging infrastructure, and introduce air quality monitoring initiatives.
Most of the funding, $344 million, will go to the “Catalyzing Change” project, which aims to reduce diesel emissions by adding electric cargo-handling equipment, zero-emission drayage trucks, and a shore power system for vessels docked at the port. The EPA noted that PANYNJ’s plans include scrapping part of its existing fleet, providing incentives through a voucher program, and training workers to operate and maintain the new equipment.
“This substantial federal investment will help transform Port Liberty on Staten Island by replacing harmful diesel-powered equipment with zero-emission electric infrastructure,” Schumer said, adding that the funding will “modernize infrastructure and promote good-paying union jobs.”
Sen. Gillibrand, who played a key role in creating the Clean Ports Program as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, highlighted the project’s impact on both job creation and environmental sustainability. “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,” Gillibrand said. “We’re improving air quality and combating climate change while creating green energy jobs and positioning the U.S. to lead in clean energy.”
The PANYNJ award was one of the largest in the Biden administration’s nearly $3 billion Clean Ports initiative, part of its Investing in America agenda aimed at sustainable infrastructure and clean energy job growth.
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