The Maryland Port Administration is starting a $147 million project to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the Port of Baltimore.
Baltimore: The Maryland Port Administration just announced they’re kicking off a big project to tackle greenhouse gas emissions at the Port of Baltimore. This is a multi-year effort, backed by $147 million in federal funds.
This funding is part of a larger $3 billion investment in ports from the Inflation Reduction Act that President Biden signed in 2022. The goal? To cut down pollution for workers and nearby communities while also creating union jobs.
Biden highlighted this funding during his visit to the Dundalk Marine Terminal back in October. The Port Administration will get $145 million in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to buy zero-emission cargo handling gear, new heavy-duty trucks, and locomotives. Plus, there’s an extra $2 million to help plan for even more emissions cuts down the line.
While the money hasn’t come through yet, the Port Administration plans to kick things off with community engagement and engineering work starting February 1. They expect the project to wrap up by December 2028.
However, the grant officially kicked in on January 6, and the Port Administration just got the award notice recently. They’re currently in planning mode and are eager to work with their partners to get things rolling, though they don’t foresee any major delays.
The main aim of this grant is to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for the neighborhoods around the port. The funds will be released as needed, rather than all at once, to cover immediate costs.
Biden has been using Baltimore as a key example of his efforts to upgrade infrastructure, including ports and transit systems. Back in 2021, he visited the port to celebrate new infrastructure legislation, especially as ports faced major delays during the pandemic recovery.
