North Carolina Construction News staff writer
United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan was in Wilmington to announce the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, which includes $3 billion for zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure at ports.
Projects are expected to improve air quality at ports and surrounding communities, help combat climate change and support meaningful community engagement.
“Our country’s ports feed our supply chains to put food on our tables, keep our businesses running and provide for our everyday needs,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We are deeply grateful to the Biden Administration for the investments that have helped fix our supply chain, rebuild our infrastructure, reduce pollution and create thousands of good paying clean energy jobs.”
The goals of the Clean Ports Program are to:
- Build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations, positioning ports to serve as a catalyst for transformation change across the freight sector.
- Reduce diesel pollution (criteria pollutants, GHGs, and air toxics) in near-port communities, especially those with environmental justice concerns.
- Help ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning are port industry standard practices.
The opportunities available through the Clean Ports Program will help North Carolina’s state ports remain the most productive in North America.