Biden Announces $3B for Clean Port Initiatives

The Biden administration is set to unveil nearly $3 billion in funding to upgrade ports across the U.S., focusing on improving eco-friendly equipment and infrastructure.
The initiative comes in the wake of a bridge collapse in Baltimore that claimed six construction workers’ lives in March.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Baltimore’s primary port on Tuesday to unveil the grants, which officials say will electrify operations at 55 ports nationwide, while creating around 40,000 union jobs.
The announcement, which is taking place just before election day, is in line with the administration’s claims to commit to advancing clean energy initiatives, alongside the protection of jobs.
The Port of Baltimore, a vital conduit for importing and exporting motor vehicles and agricultural equipment, supports over 20,000 workers, including unionized longshoremen and truckers.
The funding includes $147 million earmarked for the Maryland Port Administration, aimed at facilitating the purchase and installation of cargo-handling equipment, thereby transitioning the port to a zero-emission facility.
The investment is part of the Clean Ports Program, overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will distribute funds to ports in 27 states and territories.
Major recipients include the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority, and ports in Savannah, Brunswick, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Oakland.
The grants stem from Biden’s landmark climate legislation passed in 2022, marking the largest clean energy investment in U.S. history.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized that the funds not only aim to enhance the economy, but also to address the environmental challenges faced by communities near ports, which often struggle with air quality issues related to diesel pollution.
He said: “Our ports are the backbone of our economy,” while he highlighted the essential role they play in supporting the supply chain and driving commerce.
He added that safeguarding communities and the environment can coexist with economic growth, countering critiques from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans regarding environmental regulations.
The announcement follows a $31 million federal allocation for rehabilitating part of Baltimore’s Dundalk Marine Terminal and comes shortly after the company responsible for the bridge collapse settled with the Justice Department for over $102 million in cleanup costs.
However, the settlement does not cover the costs of rebuilding the bridge, which could reach nearly $2 billion, prompting the state of Maryland to pursue further claims.
With the Clean Ports Program expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over three million metric tons—equivalent to the annual energy consumption of nearly 400,000 homes—and decrease nitrogen oxides and other pollutants, Regan stressed the transformative impact of this funding.
John Podesta, senior adviser to the president on international climate policy, echoed this sentiment, noting the grants’ alignment with Biden and Harris’s commitment to infrastructure renewal and climate action, particularly benefiting communities most affected by pollution.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press