President Biden Announces $3 Billion Investment in U.S. Ports

President Joe Biden has announced a $3 billion in funding aimed at transforming America’s port infrastructure.

The funding will is being provided Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports grants made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. The significant funding injection is set to modernize and electrify ports across the nation, creating an estimated 40,000 good-paying jobs while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns.

“The nation’s ports are the lynchpin of our nation’s supply chains and employ over 100,000 union workers across the United States,” the White House said in a statement. “This funding will protect and create good-paying and union jobs and better working conditions by upgrading port operations and infrastructure to cleaner equipment, while ensuring cleaner air for port workers and nearby communities.”

The Clean Ports program, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, will distribute grants to 55 recipients across 27 states and territories.

Selected project are expected to have a significant environmental impact, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution in its first decade—equivalent to the annual energy use of nearly 400,000 homes. The program will facilitate the acquisition of over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, all powered by clean energy sources.

“Today’s historic $3 billion investment builds on President Biden’s vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in globally competitive solutions of the future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Delivering cleaner technologies and resources to U.S. ports will slash harmful air and climate pollution while protecting people who work in and live nearby ports communities.”

A notable beneficiary is the Maryland Port Administration, receiving $147 million for implementation and planning. The funding will enable the purchase of zero-emission equipment, installation of charging infrastructure, and power improvements, supporting over 2,000 jobs in the process.

For the Port of Baltimore, this investment is particularly crucial. As one of the busiest ports on the East Coast and a national hub for auto imports and exports, it supports over 20,000 workers daily and contributes significantly to Maryland’s economy. The port’s economic impact is estimated at $192 million per day, or more than $70 billion annually, representing 13% of Maryland’s gross domestic product.

The announcement is part of the Biden Administration’s broader Investing in America agenda, which has already delivered over $13 billion for more than 970 projects in Maryland alone. This includes substantial investments in critical infrastructure projects such as the $4.7 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel replacement and $213 million for modernizing light rail vehicles.

After the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore, which killed six workers and halted port traffic, President Biden pledged his Administration’s full support to reopen the Port of Baltimore. “Today, port workers are back on the job, once again moving more than 100,000 tons of cargo per day,” the White House said.

Other notable projects include a $344 million grant to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their “Catalyzing Change: Zero-Emissions NY-NJ Port Projects for a Greener Future” initiative, and a $322 million investment in the Port of Oakland for deploying electric and hydrogen cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, and battery energy storage systems.

The Clean Ports program not only aligns with the President’s Justice40 Initiative but also supports the administration’s goal for a zero-emission freight sector. As ports transition to cleaner technologies, neighboring communities can expect improved air quality and reduced health risks associated with port-related pollution.

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