Clean Ports Grant Program

In October 2024, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (Port of Cleveland) $94,261,128 in grant funding through the U.S. EPA’s Clean Ports Program for its Cleveland Harbor Electrification Initiative. 

With this grant funding, the Port of Cleveland will implement the next phase of the Electrification and Net Zero Emissions Master Plan by deploying electric cargo handling equipment (including scrapping a portion of the existing diesel fleet), zero-emission vessels, and associated charging infrastructure and battery energy storage systems. Infrastructure for vessel shore power is included as well. The project also includes community outreach activities and workforce development through increased equipment and infrastructure maintenance jobs. 

Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods and people throughout the country. At the same time, the port and freight equipment responsible for moving goods including trucks, locomotives, marine vessels, and cargo-handling equipment contribute to significant levels of diesel air pollution at and near port facilities. This pollution is especially harmful to nearby communities’ health and contributes to climate change. These funds will improve air quality at the Port of Cleveland by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure.

The Port of Cleveland is one of the largest ports on the Great Lakes. Over 23,000 jobs are tied to the roughly 13 million tons of cargo that move through Cleveland Harbor each year. The Port of Cleveland is the only local government agency whose sole mission is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County. The Port is an economic engine for our community, a key to Northeast Ohio’s global competitiveness, and a crucial partner in building Cuyahoga County’s future.

The funding for this project is anticipated to replace thirteen pieces of cargo handling equipment, two older generation diesel tugboats, add EV charging equipment and a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with complimentary solar and shore power.

In conjunction with the development of the Master Plan, the Port has invested over $93.8M in infrastructure since 2015, with 75%+ of the cost covered by state and federal grants. Grant funds have supported various projects aimed at modernization, sustainability, and infrastructure development, which align with the broader program goals of reducing Port emissions and transitioning to ZE operations. Several recent coordination efforts are as follows:

The Port has secured $32M+ in federal and state grants for the rehabilitation and modernization of a key warehouse and electrical infrastructure upgrade at its General Cargo Terminal. This project included the development of the Master Plan, which developed the roadmap and project planning for the elements of this application. The grants for this project include $27.2M from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD)’s PIDP and $4.9M from the Ohio DOT’s MAP.

• In 2021, the Port completed improvements at its main gate to improve the security clearance process and truck turn time via U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Earmark OH302.
• In collaboration with the Port, Omnitrax, the provider of switching rail services at the terminal, will deploy a fully Battery Electric (BE) locomotive later this year using Ohio EPA Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund funding. The new locomotive will reduce fuel consumption by 50% and Particulate Matter (PM) pollution by 77%.
• In 2020, the Port received a grant from the U.S. DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) to rehabilitate and improve two cargo docks at the Port on Lake Erie. This project helped improve the efficiency of port operations.
• The Port has received two Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants to date, one in 2021 to replace tugboats and one in 2017 to replace a loader at the Port’s Cleveland Bulk Terminal. These grants amount to just under $1M.

During the Port’s Strategic Plan development, the Port conducted interviews with over 40 local stakeholder organizations, with specific questions regarding the Port’s community, social, and environmental impacts, as well as its communication regarding issues or concerns. Several themes arose from responses, including the need for additional equipment, namely another crane and reach stacker, concerns over the cost and reliability of electrified equipment, the desire for shore power infrastructure, and the pressure to reduce emissions to aid in companies’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Climate Action goals. The Project is expected to address all these themes. 

To ensure the voices of all County residents are incorporated within the Project design, the Port has conducted engagement that has consisted of a public board meeting, as well as the distribution of a Project fact sheet through Port newsletters and social media. Additional community engagement will occur throughout Project delivery that will entail regular community updates and opportunities to provide feedback. 

The Port plans to enhance collaboration with Davis A&M High School and as part of this project, we commit to providing internships and workforce training programs that utilize Clean Ports-installed equipment, including Zero Emissions (ZE) mobile equipment and the new renewable energy systems. The Port has a long relationship with Davis A&M, including through ongoing maritime education programs and through the provision of funding and grants.  

The Port of Cleveland is being supported by Jacobs Engineering Group (Jacobs), a firm with a long history of implementing sustainable infrastructure and equipment into city, state, and port operations. Jacobs brings a team of local businesses to support our work to design and implement this program. 

Logistec, the Port of Cleveland’s operator, and Great Lakes Towing were partners to the application and sub award agreements are being developed. Cleveland Public Power (CPP) is an implementation partner.