Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions  -  April 26, 2024

Port Houston Receives Funding for ZE Trucks

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced Texas was awarded a $26.9 million grant for the Port Houston new clean truck program to help reduce air emissions. 

Port Houston’s CLEANSTACS Program (Catalyzing Lower Emissions with Alliances and New Systems in Trucking and Community Sustainability) was one of fewer than 20 projects selected nationwide.

The program will help fund 30 new zero-emission (ZE) short-haul trucks and portable electric chargers for battery electric vehicle trucks to help make zero-emission technology accessible and more affordable to owners and operators of small trucking fleets. The funds will also pay for installing new automated terminal operating systems to help reduce truck idling times.

The Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant is a new program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in November 2021.

Port Houston will use its portion of the grant to subsidize replacement of existing drayage trucks with new ZE trucks, which can cost upwards of $400,000 -$500,000. Fleet owners are responsible for covering 20% of the cost, and both electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks are eligible.

Of the $26.9 million grant, $25.1 million will help jumpstart the CLEANSTACS first phase, which includes 30 new zero-emission drayage trucks, 15 anti-idling devices for existing trucks, a regional truck study to help reduce traffic through port communities including Galena Park and Pleasantville, and public engagement and community education for the new technologies available in goods movement. The 30 new ZE trucks are scheduled to be deployed by the end of 2025.

Jacintoport International, LLC will receive $1.8 million of the funding to install new terminal operating systems.

“This project represents an ambitious program for Port Houston, and another step toward cleaner air quality for the region, and achieving our 2050 carbon neutral goal,” said Port Houston Chairman Ric Campo in a statement. “The availability of these funds will help reduce barriers for small trucking fleets, a true win-win-win for our local community, our truckers, and our port. The announcement of this first-of-its-kind investment is pivotal in reducing air emissions across our region.” 

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