The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launchED of the $3-billion Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure. The Clean Ports Program is designed to help ports across the country transition to fully zero-emissions operations—serving as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector.

To achieve this, EPA is releasing two separate Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) as part of the $3 billion.

The nearly $2.8-billion Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition (EPA-R-OAR-CPP-24-04) will directly fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at US ports. Eligible uses of funding include human-operated and maintained zero-emission cargo handling equipment, harbor craft and other vessels, electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and a number of other technology investments.

Applications under this competition will be evaluated under multiple tiers in order to ensure that funds are distributed across ports of different sizes and types, and to ensure funding for ports serving Tribal communities.

The approximately $150-million Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition (EPA-R-OAR-CPP-24-05) will fund climate and air quality planning activities at US ports, including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification.

The funding for the two grant competitions is available to port authorities; state, regional, local, or Tribal agencies that have jurisdiction over a port authority or port; air pollution control agencies; and private entities that apply in partnership with an eligible entity above, and that own, operate or use facilities, cargo-handling equipment, transportation equipment, or related technology of a port. The funding can be used for projects at water ports (coastal and inland) as well as projects at facilities where goods are transferred between rail cars and trucks (dry ports).

The new program builds on the EPA’s Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs, which have invested more than $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports.

The deadline to apply for the two Clean Ports Program NOFOs is May 28. Eligible applicants can apply for funding through one or both NOFOs.