Pennsylvania Ag Connection - EPA Awards Philadelphia Port Nearly $1.3 Million

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EPA Awards Philadelphia Port Nearly $1.3 Million
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 01/24/2022

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1,286,521 grant today to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority for a project that will reduce diesel emissions from the nation's fleet of older, dirtier engines. The Port Authority will use the funds to convert a ship to shore gantry crane from diesel to electric.

EPA awarded $53 million through the 2021 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) National Grant program, and an additional $24 million was awarded to states through the State DERA Grant program, for a total of $77 million to reduce diesel pollution in local communities.

"Cleaner trucks, buses, boats, and heavy equipment keep local economies thriving while better protecting the health of the people living and working near ports, schools, and along delivery routes," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "The projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, many of which are facing environmental justice issues."

Fifty-five national DERA grants were awarded covering a wide range of projects to reduce diesel emissions including upgrades to school buses, port equipment and construction equipment. Nineteen of these awards will support replacing older diesel equipment with zero emission technologies such as transportation refrigeration units, terminal tractors, drayage trucks, refuse trucks, a locomotive, as well as the port ship-to-shore gantry crane.

EPA also awarded $24 million under EPA's 2021 DERA State Grants program to 49 states and three territories to implement their own diesel emissions reduction programs locally. This program allows states to target funds towards the diesel emissions reduction projects that best align with local priorities.

Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded over $1 billion in grants and rebates to modernize the nation's diesel fleet and speed the turnover to cleaner on- and off-road heavy-duty trucks and equipment.

In addition to DERA, following the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA will be making significant investments in the health, equity and resilience of American communities. EPA will offer a total of $5 billion between fiscal years 2022 and 2026 to fund the replacement of dirtier school buses with low- or no-carbon school buses.

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