The Biden administration on Tuesday announced nearly $3 billion in awards to boost clean energy infrastructure at ports around the country — and $58.6 million of that funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will go to the Port of San Diego.
Port of San Diego officials say the grant, coming from the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, will be used for the port’s Clean Cargo Project that will further efforts to use electricity rather than diesel and other fossil-fuel power at the port’s two maritime cargo terminals and reduce emissions when moving freight.
The money comes from the Inflation Reduction Act that passed on Capitol Hill and was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022.
An additional $28 million in match funding from the port, the San Diego Air Pollution Control District and a collection of companies — Dole, the PASHA Group, Skycharger and SSA Marine — brings the total value of the project cost to $86 million.
“We are immensely grateful to the EPA for its financial support and to our congressional delegation for helping us deliver on our promises to support commerce, community and the environment,” Frank Urtasun, chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, said in a statement.
The Port of San Diego has already invested at least $125 million to meet its Maritime Clean Air Strategy to transition all cargo handling equipment to zero-emissions by 2030.
Last month, the port showed off its pair of electric harbor cranes at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Soaring 262 feet high, the two are the first all-electric mobile cranes installed at any port in North America. By replacing diesel with electric power, the cranes that move from berth to berth are expected to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 47 metric tons per year.
Earlier this year, the port became the first in the U.S. to launch an electric tug boat — the 82-foot eWolf, operated by Crowley Maritime Corp. Capable of speeds of up to 12 knots, the tug has bollard pull (that is, thrust) of 76.8 short tons, which is more powerful than the port’s diesel-powered counterparts.
The port’s Clean Cargo Project has plans to improve the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal’s electrical distribution system, install two shore power systems to support harbor craft, advance a proposed zero-emissions truck stop and deploy battery-electric cargo handling equipment, shuttle vans and 25 heavy-duty trucks.
The efforts will help clean the air at nearby South Bay communities such as Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and National City.
“We look forward to working with the port and manufacturers to deploy this new zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce emissions while growing our regional economy,” Sharon Cloward, president of the San Diego Working Waterfront (formerly the San Diego Port Tenants Association), said in a statement about the grant from EPA.
Biden announced the $3 billion package in front of the Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore, near the site of a bridge collapse on March 26 that closed commercial shipping traffic for nearly three months.
“Ports are the linchpin to America’s supply chain,’’ Biden said, adding the funding will improve and electrify port infrastructure at 55 sites nationwide while supporting an estimated 40,000 union jobs.
One-third of the $3 billion has been earmarked for ports in California.
The Port of Los Angeles received the most in the Golden State — $411.7 million — followed by the Port of Oakland with $322.2 million, the Port of Stockton with $110.5 and the Port of San Diego.
A self-sustaining entity, the Port of San Diego budget does not collect tax dollars. Its revenue comes from a variety of sources, including commercial real estate around San Diego Bay, and fees from ships using the port’s docks, wharves and cargo terminals that bring in everything from cars to wind turbines to sugar and bulk items.
Established in 1962, the San Diego Unified Port District includes 34 miles of waterfront property stretching from Shelter Island to the border. Port officials manage everything from cargo and cruise terminals to hotels, restaurants, marinas, museums and 22 public parks and events along the coastline.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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