EPA Ports Initiative Newsletter

January 23, 2024

Newsletter Items: 

• NEW WEBPAGE: Federal Funding Opportunities for Port Low- to Zero-Emission Technologies
• Complementary EPA Funding Programs: EPA's Clean Ports Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program 
• REGISTER NOW: Community, Equity and Resiliency Regional Roadshow
• NOW OPEN: Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants 
• REMINDER: View the Recordings and Slides from EPA’s Clean Ports Program – First Look! Webinar 

NEW WEBPAGE: Federal Funding Opportunities for Port Low- to Zero-Emission Technologies

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, in partnership with EPA’s Ports Initiative and the Department of Transportation, recently released a new resource for ports to explore the historic federal funding opportunities available for reducing emissions at ports. 

The Federal Funding Opportunities for Port Low- to Zero-Emission Technology webpage provides background on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding for ports and outlines basic eligibilities for funding programs across the DOE, EPA, and DOT, including EPA’s Clean Ports Program and Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants. Applicants are encouraged to visit program websites to carefully review complete eligibility and legal requirements for the funding program of interest.

Complementary EPA Funding Programs: EPA's Clean Ports Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program

EPA’s Clean Ports Program anticipates awarding grants to eligible entities for port climate and air quality planning, as well as for the deployment of zero-emission port equipment (e.g. electric or hydrogen dray trucks, locomotives, harbor craft, and cargo handling equipment) and associated fueling infrastructure (including shore power for ocean-going vessels). Port-related projects that are not zero-emissions but partially mitigate emissions, such as hybrid technologies, are not anticipated to be eligible for Clean Ports Program funding. However, they may be eligible for other EPA funding opportunities including Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants. The Clean Ports Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is expected to be released in February 2024, with applications anticipated to be due 90 days after the NOFO is made available

EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) and associated criteria and toxic air pollution across all sectors of the economy. Two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) are currently open for $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants: a general competition for applications from states, municipalities, Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territories, and a competition only for Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territories.

These competitions are open to entities that received planning grants to develop Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) under phase 1 of the CPRG program, as well as state, local, Tribal, and territorial entities that did not directly receive a planning grant that are applying for funds to implement GHG reduction measures included in an applicable PCAP. For port-related GHG reduction measures to be eligible for CPRG implementation grants, projects must be included in a PCAP. PCAPs include near-term, high-priority, implementation ready measures and are developed by CPRG planning grant recipients during the planning phase of CPRG. PCAPs are due to EPA by March 1, 2024 (April 1, 2024 for Tribes and territories not applying for the CPRG implementation grants general competition).  

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to discuss the inclusion of port-related projects in an applicable PCAP with the lead organization for that PCAP. For a list of CPRG planning grant recipients (lead organizations), please reference CPRG's Status of Planning Grant Awards document. Applications for the CPRG implementation grants general competition are due April 1, 2024; applications for the Tribes and territories competition are due May 1, 2024.  

If you think your project is eligible for funding from both programs, please consider applying to both Clean Ports and CPRG. Please keep in mind that if your specific project is selected for funding from one program, that project will no longer be eligible for funding from the other, but you are welcome to apply to both programs to increase your chances of success.

We encourage prospective applicants for either program to begin the registration process for SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Both accounts are required to apply for federal grants, and the registration process can take at least 10 days to complete. 

For more information about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, including how to apply, webinar recordings, and application materials, visit the CPRG Implementation Grants webpage. For other questions related to CPRG implementation grants, email CPRG@epa.gov. 

For more information about the Clean Ports Program, including anticipated program design, webinar recordings, and up-to-date information, visit the Clean Ports Program webpage. You may also email cleanports@epa.gov with questions.

EPA’s Community, Equity and Resiliency initiative is hosting events across the country as part of a regional roadshow. These in-person regional events are designed to provide opportunities for potential grant applicants and community leaders to explore appropriate Inflation Reduction Act and other new Investing in America funding opportunities and develop or leverage existing community-based partnerships. 

The next event will be held in Region 9 in San Bernardino, CA on February 16, 2024, 5:30 – 8:00 PM PST. This event provides opportunities for community leaders and potential grant applicants of Region 9 to:  

• Hear about significant Inflation Reduction Act (and other Investing in America) funding opportunities and technical assistance. Discover available EPA resources to help your community. 
• Meet with fellow peers in Region 9 to develop new or deeper community-based partnerships and cultivate ideas for appropriate funding opportunities.  
• Brainstorm how to confront the climate crisis and advance environmental justice in your community.

The Regional Roadshow is a part of EPA’s Community, Equity & Resiliency initiative, a groundbreaking effort to help communities across the nation navigate EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act investments and other new funding opportunities made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Through this new initiative, EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) will facilitate community-driven partnerships and provide a space for communities to learn, connect and cultivate ideas on how to access the historic resources, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities. 

Please check the Regional Roadshow webpage for additional upcoming events. Next up: Region 8 in Denver, CO. 

For community-oriented resources on funding opportunities, technical assistance, and environmental justice data tools, check out the Resources to Help Communities webpage. 

NOW OPEN: Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants

EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.  

The entities eligible to apply under this NOFO are: 

• A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs)
• A partnership between a CBO and one of the following: 
• a Federally-Recognized Tribe 
• a local government 
• an institution of higher education

Other organizations and entities may be able to participate and be involved in the Community Change Grants projects as collaborating subrecipients and/or procurement contractors selected in compliance with competition requirements. 

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis until November 21, 2024. To apply, view this opportunity on Grants.gov. 

For frequently asked questions, technical resources, and engagement opportunities, visit the Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants webpage.

EPA’s Ports Initiative recently hosted a webinar on EPA’s plans for the new Clean Ports Program, a $3 billion Inflation Reduction Act program to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. 

We provided updates on key program design elements including anticipated eligible activities and equipment, evaluation criteria, program structure, timeline, and more. EPA anticipates this new funding opportunity will become available for application through a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) released in late winter 2024. 

Thank you to all stakeholders who attended and participated in the webinar! Recordings and slides from the webinar are now available on the Ports Initiative Events page in both English and Spanish.

For more information on resources and best practices to address diesel emissions at ports, please visit EPA's Ports Initiative website.

Previous newsletters can be found here: EPA Ports Initiative Newsletter | US EPA