The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has secured a record US$347 million in federal funding from the Biden-Harris administration, awarded through the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, to enhance sustainability and community engagement at the US Port.
“EPA’s US$347 million award to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to execute their ‘Catalyzing Change’ plan is a huge win for New Jersey, and a bold step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,” commented US Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.
This funding will support a range of green initiatives at the East Coast’s busiest port, including US$344 million earmarked to help terminal operators, truckers, and other stakeholders transition to zero-emission equipment.
It will fund new cargo-handling equipment, install shore power for reduced emissions, and create a voucher program to accelerate the shift to zero-emission drayage trucks.
An additional US$3 million will deepen the Port Authority’s collaboration with local communities and stakeholders, establishing a Port Community Advisory Council and enhancing engagement with drayage truck operators. The grant will also fund a community air monitoring program and an update to the Drayage Truck Movement and Impact Study to support the industry’s transition to clean vehicles.
These initiatives align with the Port Authority’s Net Zero Roadmap, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. Existing sustainability programs include the Truck Replacement Program, Clean Vessel Incentive, and a Marine Terminal Tariff that mandates zero-emission equipment.
Other efforts include electric charging stations and the seaport’s ExpressRail system to reduce truck traffic. The Port of New York and New Jersey, which handled US$238 billion in cargo in 2023, supports over 563,000 regional jobs.
