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Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago Headline Great Lakes Clean Ports Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week released the recipients of funding under the Clean Ports Program, a program under the Inflation Reduction Act to help ports transition away from fossil fuels. Grants for the FY2025 cycle total $3 billion and 55 projects, $219 million of which went to ports in the Great Lakes region for six projects.
These grants are awarded in two categories. Climate and Air Quality Program grants (CAQP) are smaller grants, averaging $2 million per project, that help ports plan for a green future. Per the EPA, the grants will “build the capacity” of ports to prepare for the energy transition. Zero-Emission Technology Deployment grants (ZE Tech) are much larger, averaging over $100 million per project. These grants make the energy transition a reality, providing funds for ports to purchase zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure.
The Port of Cleveland will receive $94 million under the ZE Tech program, which will fund the construction of a rooftop solar system, the purchase of electric cargo handling equipment, and the construction of two electric tugboats, among other initiatives.
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA) will receive $22 million in ZE Tech grants to purchase electric cargo handling equipment and electric vessels and railcar movers. The DWCPA will also receive $3 million for a CAPQ grant to develop an emissions-reduction roadmap and a community engagement plan.
The Port of Chicago will receive a $95 million ZE Tech grant, which will fund electric drayage trucks, electric vessels, and charging infrastructure, along with additional technologies.
To learn more about green shipping, and how the Ports of Cleveland and Detroit are planning to use these grants, watch our briefing on the Green Shipping Corridor Network, featuring Carly Beck, Senior Manager of Planning, Environment and Information Systems at the Port of Cleveland, and Mark Schrupp, Executive Director at the DWPCA.
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