Spanberger Announces $380 Million for Virginia Port Authority to Fund Zero-Emissions Equipment & Infrastructure at Port of Virginia
These Federal Grant Dollars — Made Possible by the Inflation Reduction Act — Will Help the Virginia Port Authority Fund Electric Cargo Handling Equipment, Charging Infrastructure, & Battery Energy Storage System
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a total of $380 million for the Virginia Port Authority to purchase new zero-emission cargo handling equipment and charging infrastructure at the Port of Virginia.
This grant funding was awarded through EPA’s Clean Ports Program — created by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Spanberger voted to pass and President Biden signed into law. The $380 million awarded to the Virginia Port Authority was selected through the Clean Port Program’s Zero-Emission Technology Deployment (ZE Tech) Competition. This funding opportunity supports zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions — like criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases — and deliver cleaner air for local communities. Specifically, the Virginia Port Authority will use these federal grant dollars to help purchase electric cargo handling equipment, upgrade charging infrastructure, and implement a new battery energy storage system.
“The Port of Virginia drives economic investment and job creation in Hampton Roads and across the United States of America. This smart investment will help Virginia remain a leader in creating good-paying clean energy jobs, grow our Commonwealth’s economy, and support our nation’s economic competitiveness into the future,” said Spanberger. “When I voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, I did so to help build a stronger future for the next generation of Americans. Now, I’m proud to see these federal investments coming home to Virginia.”
BACKGROUND
The Clean Ports Program was created under the Inflation Reduction Act to provide nearly $3 billion in federal grant dollars to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure, as well as climate and air quality planning, at U.S. ports located in 27 states and territories. According to EPA, the Clean Ports Program aims to build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations, reduce diesel pollution in communities near ports, and help guarantee that emissions reduction planning becomes standard practice in the port industry.
Click here for more information about the Clean Ports Program.
###