By
Alex Smith |
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Port of Seward and the Don Young Port of Alaska to receive over $47.7 million through the EPA’s Clean Ports Program to support zero-emission port technology and infrastructure.
The Don Young Port of Alaska was selected to receive $1,934,206 to complete a base line emissions inventory, assess clean energy alternatives and develop an Energy Transition Plan. The port will also evaluate technology deployment scenarios, as well as conducting a safety analysis for hydrogen equipment and workforce planning.
The Port of Seward, meanwhile, will receive $45, 732,040 to develop vessel shore power facilities, a battery energy storage system and electrical infrastructure upgrades. The port is already set to recieve a new cruise terminal in 2026 as a result of a partnership between the city, Royal Caribbean Group, the Seward Company and the Alaska Railroad
The grants have been funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, an investment by the US federal government intended to promote clean energy.
“Alaska’s ports are vital to supporting jobs and communities across the state,” said Casey Sixkiller, regional administrator for Region 10 at the EPA. “This funding, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will supercharge efforts to electrify port operations and cleaner, zero-emissions solutions that benefit air quality, surrounding port communities, and help advance our collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis.”
The investments are predicted by the EPA to eliminate more than three million tonnes of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes’ energy use for one year in the USA.
"The city of Seward, Alaska is ecstatic about receiving the Clean Ports grant for the electrification of the Port of Seward,” said Kat Sorensen, city manager of Seward. “Seward is surrounded by wildlife, glaciers, and magnificent landscapes and, because of that, we see continuous visitation from tourists in the summer months. By providing the cruise ships that arrive in Seward shore power, they'll be able to turn off their diesel engines and reduce fuel consumption and related emissions.”
The EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for American ports in February 2024. These were the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition, which aimed to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities. The competitions closed in May 2024, with 55 applicants selected to receive the investment.
Selected ports will work with the EPA to finalise project plans before receiving their final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will then take place over the next three to four years.
Find out more about the selected applicants for the Clean Ports Program via the EPA’s website.