AAPA celebrates U.S. ports

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) 2024 Convention in Boston continued October 29th with discussion of $3 billion in new federal grants for clean ports and testimonials from port executives about the work of AAPA: Susan Gardner, Vice President of Operations, Georgia Ports Authority GPA) was looking forward to the discussion of future terminal operations at the AAPA convention.

Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Long Beach, discussed the importance of the Port’s green port initiatives and hailed the work of the AAPA and U.S. ports “in preparing future port leaders.”

Paul Matthews, CEO, Port of South Louisiana said the Port “was proud to move cargo and support the community” in collaboration with other Louisiana ports.

Ports’ Critical Role

AAPA President & CEO Cary Davis said the AAPA continued its strong advocacy for U.S. ports with Congress to ensure that U.S. ports “are at the table and not on the menu.”

Davis emphasized that U.S. ports play a critical role in the U.S. economy: “Ports are fundamental integral life-giving engines to local economies and workforces, but their impact flies under the radar until a supply chain crisis flares up in good times and bad. AAPA will not stop defending the role and purpose of ports in economic and social health. It's why earlier this month on the anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's Declaration of National Ports Week, we released our latest economic impact study on the role of ports in America: American seaports help support 21.8 million jobs and $2.9 trillion in economic activity.”

Davis also emphasized the importance of new federal renewable energy initiatives supporting new economic development at U.S. ports: “I'm excited for all the alternative energy conversations going on because of a … announcement this morning called the EPA Clean Ports Program. Has anyone heard of that little $3 billion grant program? In fact, I got an email about it this morning. President Biden is going to say … in front of the entire nation … that these federal monies will support the purchase of battery, electric and hydrogen powered human operated and human maintained equipment. President Biden's also going to say, the nation's ports are the linchpin of our nation's supply chains.”

Davis said AAPA is also supporting partnerships in Canada and Latin America. Rich Davey, Massport CEO said U.S. ports “should be proud of what we do for the American economy.”

The convention keynote speaker was Ann Phillips, Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired). Phillips congratulated the ports who won grants from the EPA Clean Ports Program that Davis referred to earlier: “Congratulations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their Clean Ports Program. The awardees will be formally announced later today in Baltimore … but the list is out. And so, congratulations to the many awardees … Tremendous opportunity for all of you, and certainly a tremendous opportunity for EPA. And we, we congratulate them on moving that process forward and taking advantage of that opportunity for so many ports around the country.”

Phillips also cited the work done by the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP)which is administered by the Maritime Administration. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021 designated $450 million annually for the next five years for PIDP. This allowed significant improvements to port facilities on the coasts, rivers and Great Lakes. Projects fall into categories such as: Loading and unloading of goods at a port and Movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port.

Phillips congratulated the PIDP team “on moving the PIDP grant awards along. So, I know many of you know (the) amazing team … who works very hard every day on your behalf along with the folks who do marine highways and small shipyard grants, which I know many of you have benefited from.”

EPA Clean Ports Program

On October 29th, the Biden administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced 55 selected applications for nearly $3 billion in Clean Ports Program grants funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The selected applications will fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports located in 27 states and territories.

This new funding program was built on EPA’s Ports Initiative, which “helps our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. “

The goals of the Clean Ports Program are to:

• 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 (including criteria pollutants, GHGs, and air toxics) in near-port communities, especially those with environmental justice concerns.
• Help ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning become a part of port industry standard practices.

Ports Discuss Finance and Modernization Challenges

A panel discussion followed Phillips that was composed of several port directors who discussed challenges they faced financing and modernizing their ports to maintain competitiveness. The port executives included:

• Gordon Carr, Executive Director, New Bedford Port Authority
• Larry Kelley, Executive Port Director and CEO, Port of Port Arthur Navigation District
• Charles Tillotson, Executive Director, Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District
• Lisa Lefeber, CEO/Executive Director, Port of Everett

Lighthouse Awards for Excellence

AAPA also announced their ‘Lighthouse’ awards for a port’s outstanding achievements. The winners this year included: Port of Redwood City, Port of Oakland, Port of Corpus Christi, Port of Longview and the Port of Tacoma.