Clean Ports Program
- About the Clean Ports Program
- Notices of Funding Opportunities (Updated)
- Build America Buy America Waiver
- Important Dates
- Documents for Applicants (Updated)
- Questions and Answers
- Eligible Applicants
- Eligible Activities
- Application Process
- Tools and Resources for Applicants
- Public Engagement
About the Clean Ports Program
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that helps our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.
EPA has announced two separate Notices of Funding Opportunities to disburse the allocated $3 billion - the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition AND the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition. The two NOFOs will be used to fund approximately $2.8 billion in zero-emission technology deployment at ports, as well as approximately $150 million for climate and air quality planning. Both NOFOs are open now, until the application deadline at 11:59 PM on May 28, 2024. EPA anticipates notifying selectees by September 2024 and awarding the grants by December 2024.
Clean Ports Program goals:
- Build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations, positioning ports to serve as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector.
- Reduce diesel pollution (criteria pollutants, GHGs, and air toxics) in near-port communities.
- Help ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning are port industry standard practices.
View or download the Clean Ports Program Infographic (pdf) .
View or download the Clean Ports Program Fast Facts (pdf) or Datos rápidos del Programa de puertos limpios (pdf) .
Notices of Funding Opportunities (Updated)
Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition
The Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition will fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions (criteria pollutants, air toxics, and/or greenhouse gases) at U.S. ports, delivering cleaner air for communities across the country.
- Clean Ports Program: Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (pdf)
- Apply now on Grants.gov: EPA-R-OAR-CPP-24-04 Clean Ports Program: Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition
Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition
The Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition is poised to fund climate and air quality planning activities at U.S. ports; including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification, all of which will build the capacity of port stakeholders to continue to reduce pollution and transition to zero-emissions operations over time.
- Clean Ports Program: Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (pdf)
- Apply now on Grants.gov: EPA-R-OAR-CPP-24-05 Clean Ports Program: Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition
For both competitions , the EPA requests submittal of an optional informal notice of an Intent to Apply by March 28, 2024 to cleanports@epa.gov. Please use the subject line “Notice of Intent to Apply: Zero-Emission Technology Deployment” or “Notice of Intent to Apply: Climate and Air Quality Planning.” Please include in the body of the email the name of the applicant, the estimated dollar amount of the anticipated funding request, and a sentence or two summarizing the project (if known). Submission of Intent to Apply is optional and non-binding.
Build America Buy America Waiver
The Notice of Proposed Waiver of BABA Requirements for the Clean Ports Program is now open for comment. You can view the waiver on EPA’s BABA Waivers page. Please submit comments on the waiver by email to BABA-OTAQ@epa.gov using the subject line “Comment on Proposed Waiver of BABA Requirements for Clean Ports Program.” Comments are due by Monday, April 15 at 11:59 PM (ET).
Important Dates
Activity | Date |
---|---|
Notices of Funding Opportunities Open | Wednesday, February 28, 2024 |
Webinar: Overview of EPA’s Clean Ports Program Funding Opportunities | Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM (ET) |
Optional Notice of Intent to Apply Due to cleanports@epa.gov | Thursday, March 28, 2024 |
Deadline for comments on proposed BABA Waiver | Monday, April 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET) |
Deadline for Submitting Questions | Monday, May 6, 2024 |
NOFOs Close – Applications Due | Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET) |
Anticipated Notification of Selection | September 2024 |
Anticipated Awards | December 2024 |
Documents for Applicants (Updated)
Application Attachments
- Standard Form SF 424 (pdf) (102 KB) – Application for Federal Assistance
- Standard Form SF 424A (pdf) (138 KB) – Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs
- EPA Form 4700-4 (pdf) (115 KB)– Pre-Award Compliance Review
- EPA Key Contacts Form (pdf) (44 KB) – Key Contacts Form
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Sample Project Narrative:
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Supplemental Application Template (xlsx)
- Optional: 2024 Clean Ports Program Utility Partnership Template (pdf)
Please note that the Supplemental Application Template is now a required application attachment. This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2060-0754).
Application Reference Material
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Small Water Port Project Eligibility Information (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Dry Port Project Eligibility Information (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Disadvantaged Community County List (pdf)
- 2024 Clean Ports Program Sample Scrappage Statement (pdf)
Questions and Answers
The EPA will provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions by periodically updating the document below. If you have additional questions, please email cleanports@epa.gov. To allow for time to respond before the application deadline, please submit questions about the Clean Ports Program funding opportunities by May 6th, 2024.
Questions and Answers: Clean Ports Program Competitions (pdf)
Eligible Applicants
The following entities are eligible to apply for both competitions under the Clean Ports Program:
- Port authority
- State, regional, local, or Tribal agency that has jurisdiction over a port authority or port
- Air pollution control agency
- Private entity that:
- Applies in partnership with an eligible entity above, and
- Owns, operates, or uses facilities, cargo-handling equipment, transportation equipment, or related technology of a port.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for the Planning Competition include:
- Emissions inventory and accounting practices (one or more required)
- Stakeholder collaboration and communication, including workforce planning analysis, with a focus on near-port communities
- Strategy analysis and goal-setting
- Resiliency planning
Eligible expenses for the ZE Technology Competition include:
- ZE Mobile Equipment that Serves a Port
- Cargo handling equipment (e.g., terminal tractors, forklifts, top handlers, side picks, straddle carriers)
- Drayage trucks
- Locomotives and railcar movers
- Harbor craft and other vessels (e.g., commercial and Tribal fishing vessels, tugs, ferries, patrol boats, workboats, dredges, pilot boats, barges)
- ZE Infrastructure Serving Mobile Equipment
- Shore power for marine vessels
- Electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure as well as battery energy storage systems serving port equipment purchased as part of the applicant’s grant award
- Solar and wind power generation systems that are installed to primarily power mobile equipment, including port equipment purchased as part of the applicant’s grant award
- ZE Technology Deployment Support Activities
- Project-specific public engagement
- Safety planning, operational planning, workforce training, and protocol development
- Project management, administrative costs, and performance monitoring
- Collection and analysis of in-use operational data to optimize/refine ZE technology implementation
- Infrastructure testing
- Permit application
Application Process
Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov by the deadline to be considered for funding. Specifically, the Grants.gov registration process requires that your organization have a Unique Entity Identifier (previously known as the DUNS number) and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov); the process of obtaining both could take a month or more for new registrants.
Potential applicants without a Grants.gov account are encouraged to initiate the Grants.gov registration process well ahead of the deadline for funding since the registration process can take a month or more.
Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active the System for Award Management registration. If you have never done business with the Federal Government, you will need to register your organization in SAM.gov. If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will create an account using the government sign in service (login.gov) to complete your System for Award Management registration. The registration is FREE. The process for entity registrations includes obtaining Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned an entity by SAM.gov, and requires assertions, representations and certifications, and other information about your organization. Please review the Entity Registration Checklist for details on this process. It is recommended to begin the System for Award Management registration process prior to applying to this grant competition; registration may take more than a month to complete.
Applicants with existing Grants.gov accounts are encouraged to check the status of your System for Award Management account and address any account issues in advance of applying.
Please note that System for Award Management registrations do expire, and inactive accounts must re-register to be able to submit an application. If you have done business with the Federal Government previously, you can check your entity status using your government issued UEI to determine if your registration is active. The System for Award Management requires you renew your registration every 365 days to keep it active. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the application submission deadline.
All applications must now be submitted through Grants.gov using the “Workspace” feature. Information on the Workspace feature can be found at the Grants.gov Workspace Overview Page. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through Grants.gov, click on “Applicants” on the top of the page, and then click the “Get Registered” link on the page. Contact the Federal Service Desk for help with your System for Award Management account, to resolve technical issues or chat with a help desk agent: (866) 606-8220. The Federal Service desk hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm ET.
Tools and Resources for Applicants
Technical Resources for Ports: A collection of resources from EPA’s Ports Initiative with tools focused on shore power, emissions inventories, operational strategies, fuel cell technologies (pdf) (3.6 MB, July 2022, EPA-420-R-22-013), and more.
Best Clean Air Practices at Ports: Information, tools, and real world examples of best clean air practices for port-wide planning, drayage trucks , rail facilities , ocean-going vessels , cargo-handling equipment , and harbor craft compiled by EPA’s Ports Initiative.
Community Port Collaboration: Resources developed by EPA’s Ports Initiative to support effective communication and engagement between the port industry, communities, and other port stakeholders. Tools include the Environmental Justice Primer for Ports, Ports Primer for Communities, Community Action Roadmap, pilot projects, and more.
Public Engagement
Webinars and Events
For information on past events related to EPA’s Clean Ports Program, including webinar slides and recordings, please visit the Ports Initiative Events page. Recent events include:
- EPA’s Clean Ports Program: Frequent Questions and Answers Webinar (4/25/2024)
- EPA’s Clean Ports Program and MARAD’s PIDP: An Overview of Complementary Federal Funding Opportunities Webinar (4/11/2024)
- Overview of EPA’s Clean Ports Funding Opportunities (3/13/2024)
- EPA Clean Ports Program – First Look! Webinar (10/31/2023)
- Advancing Environmental Justice in Near Ports Communities (3/13/2023)
- IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Sessions (11/9/2022 and 12/6/2022)
Requests for Information
Technical Request for Information: EPA’s RFI on the Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs closed on June 5, 2023.
General Request for Information: EPA’s general RFI on Inflation Reduction Act Provisions for Office of Air and Radiation Implementation closed on January 18, 2023.