of Port Authorities.
About $94 million in U.S. Transportation Department grants to bolster infrastructure at six California ports and harbor districts were announced in late October. The grants focus on electrification, emissions reduction and port congestion.
The grants go toward critical repairs, container facilities, freight rail connections and electric port equipment to modernize ports and make them more environmentally responsible.
“California’s ports play a critical role in keeping our global economy moving, supporting a vibrant workforce and advancing the state’s climate goals,” said California Association of Port Authorities President Danny Wan, also the executive director of the Port of Oakland.
“This investment will help to modernize our California port system and speed the transition to a clean energy economy while relieving congestion,”
he added.
The following grants were announced on Oct. 28:
- Port of Oakland: $36.6 million: to help fund construction of a 25-acre off-dock green container support facility, various port infrastructure upgrades and battery storage and charging stations.
- Port of Long Beach: $30.1 million: to help replace diesel tractors with electric vehicles, construct electric equipment charging infrastructure and install equipment to streamline cargo-handling operations.
- Port of Stockton: $9.6 million: to replace or upgrade nearly 13,400 feet of rail.
- Port of San Francisco: $9.6 million: The grant goes toward improving the port’s infrastructure, making it more environmentally friendly.
- Crescent City Harbor District: $7.4 million: funds the construction of a new seawall at the Harbor District, located just south of the Oregon border, as well as bolstering infrastructure to support the seafood industry.
- City of Eureka: $650,000: to help replace nearly 40 failing or missing fender pilings on a quay used by commercial fishermen in Humboldt Bay.
- About 40% of all U.S. imports and 30% of all U.S. exports travel through California ports, according to the port authorities association.