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By Edwin J. Viera
December 16, 2024
The Port of New York and New Jersey is receiving funding to cut emissions. It’s part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program.
Of the $3 billion national grant, the port will get more than $347 million to monitor emissions and transition equipment to zero-emission power.
Jordan Stutt, CALSTART’s northeast region senior director, said zero-emission vehicles can help port operations in many ways.
“So, we’re going to see everything from electric forklifts and drayage trucks,” said Stutt, “to shore power systems – to help major ships use electricity at ports, instead of burning diesel while they idle there for days.”
Particulate emissions have been steadily declining at the port, but carbon emissions are rising.
In 2019, the port of New York and New Jersey was one of the highest emitting ports nationwide, with one million tons of carbon being released from it.
Cutting port emissions will have widespread benefits for nearby communities. Research shows municipalities near ports often face poor air quality and the health impacts of it.
Stutt noted that this $3 billion is going to existing technologies for ports to reduce emissions. He said the money’s other uses will help bolster ports’ climate-friendly futures.
“Through these investments, we will gather really critical data to help us better understand the benefits of this transition,” said Stutt. “It’ll help build out the workforce to support deployment and maintenance of all this equipment, and it’ll help encourage increased manufacturing of zero-emission equipment.”
He added that these will help lower costs for the next generation of zero-emission vehicles.
By already having these vehicles and the equipment, it will ensure lower costs in the future – meaning the government funds won’t be as necessary to make up the cost differential.
References:
Environmental Initiatives The Port of New York and New Jersey 2024