EPA grant to help Port of San Diego electrify equipment and reduce emissions

Driving the news: San Diego received one of 55 grants totaling $3 billion from the EPA's Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission equipment and new jobs at ports nationwide, the Biden Administration announced Tuesday.

• Seven California ports received one-third of the grant money, with the Port of Los Angeles getting the largest sum of $411 million.

Zoom in: San Diego's project will cost $86 million total with an additional $28 million in match funding provided by the port, the San Diego Air Pollution Control District, and companies including Dole, PASHA, Skycharger, and SSA Marine. The port's plan includes:

• Improving the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminals' electrical distribution system
• Building shore power systems to support harbor craft and ships
• Building a zero-emission truck stop
• Deploying battery-electric cargo handling equipment and vehicles.

State of play: The port has invested at least $125 million to make all cargo handling equipment zero-emissions by 2030 as part of its Maritime Clean Air Strategy, The Union-Tribune reported.

• Earlier this year, it installed all-electric harbor cranes, the first in North America.
• It also became the first port in the U.S. to launch an electric tugboat.

The intrigue: The Environmental Health Coalition, a local environmental justice organization, and the port secured about $900,000 for a workforce development program and community outreach about the impact of electrifying maritime operations.

What's next: The port plans to start the grant-funded EPA projects in 2025 and complete them by 2028.