EPA Awards $1M to Future Louisiana International Terminal
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Port of New Orleans $1 million to pay for a sustainability plan to assist with building the multimodal Louisiana International Terminal container facility.
The new container terminal will be located along the east bank of the Mississippi River about 8 miles southeast of New Orleans in the town of Violet. This site will eliminate the air draft restrictions imposed on vessels coming into Port NOLA.
“This funding is a crucial investment in Louisiana’s future, supporting sustainable infrastructure and creating meaningful opportunities for our communities,” U.S. Rep. Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-La.) said. “The Louisiana International Terminal represents economic growth and a commitment to environmental stewardship and workforce development that will benefit Violet, St. Bernard Parish and the entire state. I’m proud to support this project and the EPA’s dedication to ensuring that progress uplifts all Louisianians while protecting our unique environment.”
The $1.8 billion construction project will enable Port NOLA to handle larger, modern container vessels. The project is at the beginning of the federal permitting process. The first phase of the terminal opening is slated for 2028. Construction will continue thereafter, with more phased openings.
Branch
“We want to thank the EPA and our federal delegation for this funding and for their ongoing support of the Louisiana International Terminal,” said Beth Branch, port president and CEO.
The Louisiana International Terminal will improve the competitiveness of Port NOLA by enabling it to handle larger containerships passing through the Panama Canal, thus bolstering the state economy. Handling larger container vessels will result in a variety of state benefits, such as raising import/export capacity, promoting inland business opportunities and expanding intermodal transportation as well as container-on-barge cargo shipments.
“We look forward to working with the Port of New Orleans to invest in our future maritime and logistics workforce,” said Tina Tinney, chancellor of Nunez Community College. She said the EPA grant will help pay for local training and education to support jobs created by the new container terminal.
The container terminal project is a public-private partnership between Port NOLA and private terminal operators Ports America, based in New Jersey, and a terminal developing subsidiary of Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Co. MSC ranks No. 8 on the Transport Topics Top 50 global freight carriers list. The private partners are expected to provide $800 million for the project.
*Note: Port of New Orleans writes that consumer spending habits changed going into 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An economic stimulus package and low interest rates increased demand. In 2023, demand and container volumes returned to normal. (Port of New Orleans)
Other funding will be provided by Port NOLA bonds ($500 million), U.S. Department of Transportation grants ($300 million), Gov. Jeff Landry/state legislative allocations ($180 million) and state transportation corridor money ($50 million).
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In November, Michael Thomas, chairman of the board of commissioners for Port NOLA and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, spoke about port accomplishments: “Louisiana’s future economic stability depends on our ability to meet current and future shipping needs. And with LIT, that future is bright,” he said.
According to Port NOLA, the Louisiana International Terminal is the state’s largest public economic development project. “By 2050, it is expected to generate 32,000 new jobs nationwide, including more than 18,000 in Louisiana and over 4,300 in St. Bernard Parish, as well as more than $1 billion in new state and local tax revenue,” the port predicted.
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