EPA Announces $4 Million Program to Replace Older Diesel Engines at Ports
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has made $4 million available for ports to replace older diesel engines with newer cleaner-burning engines.
The goal of the grant funding is to reduce emissions from marine and inland water ports and provide heal benefits from the surrounding communities, according to EPA.
Projects may include drayage trucks, marine engines, locomotives and cargo handling with priority given to ports located in areas of poor air quality.
“These grants will help port authorities to provide immediate emissions reductions that will benefit those who work and live in port-side communities,” Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, said in a statement.
EPA said the grants are available through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act, the first competitive grant to focus only on reducing emissions at ports.
Through the program, “Port authorities, governmental or public agencies that operate ports, are able to work directly with a variety of fleet owners to lower emissions from different types of equipment used in a port setting,” EPA said.
