Competitive Grant Program to Reduce Truck Air Pollution at America’s Ports

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation will hold a virtual webcast tomorrow, May 18, 2023 at 1:00 eastern time to offer background and application Information for the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program

Registration Link: https://usdot.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_QNNM9J3cR-miAY5GFHNlcg

 

Additional information about the discretionary grant program can be found below.

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Competitive Grant Program to Reduce Truck Air Pollution at America’s Ports

Posted: April 27, 2023

Grant Submission Date: June 26, 2023

Total Program Funding $160,000,000

The FY2022-2023 funding for the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program totals $160 million. The funding will focus on projects that reduce emissions from idling trucks at our nation’s ports, which negatively impacts air quality for surrounding communities, including small children, truck drivers, and port workers.

The FHWA seeks to fund projects that reduce truck emissions in communities adjacent to ports, which disproportionately bear the negative environmental impacts. Port-related trade has increased in recent years and this activity has led to the queuing of trucks waiting to offload their goods. Port facilities, port workers, and surrounding neighborhoods often experience poor air quality due to significant truck congestion and idling both inside and outside the port facility.

Eligible project activities include:

• the development of port-related infrastructure that reduces emissions from port-related truck idling;
• on-truck technologies that reduce emissions from port-related truck idling;
• the use of zero or low emissions powertrains or fuels on trucks;
• reducing truck congestion within or adjacent to ports, including through enhanced intermodal rail connections; and
• reducing port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through port electrification and improving the efficiency of port operations.

Further, the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program will make possible more charging stations and electrical hookups for trucks alongside auxiliary electric power units that are used to provide power to the cab or sleeper berth while allowing the truck’s engine to be turned off and save fuel.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 is available here. See this fact sheet for more information: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Apportionment Fact Sheet. The program complements the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which provides grants to safety, efficiency and reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.