Brownley secures $42M in federal funding to the Port of Hueneme to reduce emissions and improve air quality

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $42,287,893 to the Port of Hueneme through its Clean Ports Program, made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. More specifically, the Port of Hueneme will receive $41,076,293 for zero-emission technology deployment and an additional $1,211,600 for climate and air quality planning to support the Port of Hueneme Reducing Emissions, Supporting Health (PHRESH) Project. This funding will be used for planning activities and deployment of zero-emission terminal equipment and a drayage truck incentive program.

“Over the past year, I have worked closely with the Port of Hueneme to secure over $42 million in federal funding to expand the Port’s innovative sustainability efforts,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This historic investment will accelerate the Port’s zero-emission transformation and is a testament to its bold environmental initiatives. As an essential economic driver for Ventura County, the Port’s commitment to a cleaner future will yield substantial benefits for the community, including improved air quality, public health, job creation, and workforce development.”

“This announcement by the EPA is exciting news for the Port of Hueneme,” said Celina Zacarias, President of the Oxnard Harbor District/Port of Hueneme. “We now have the funding to accelerate the Board of Harbor Commissioners’ 2019 adopted resolution to decarbonization, our goal is now our reality, we can put our words into action and create meaningful results for our community.”

“Congresswoman Brownley continues to trailblaze with leadership, tenacity, and know-how bringing a $43 million EPA grant to the Port of Hueneme for zero emission technology. This historic grant sets the pace for the Port to lead the way as the nation’s first fully zero emission port for cargo handling equipment and enables us to enhance the quality of life for our adjacent communities with state-of-the-art clean operations,” said Kristin Decas, President and CEO of the Port of Hueneme.

This award funding was part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program. Today, the EPA announced the selection of 55 applicants across 27 states and territories to receive nearly $3 billion for human operated and human maintained zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure, and climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. These grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate investment in history – and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel pollution from U.S. ports in surrounding communities while creating good-paying jobs. These grants seek to support efforts by our nation’s ports to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations and improve public health in surrounding communities.

The Port of Hueneme Reducing Emissions, Supporting Health (PHRESH) project consists of two components: PHRESH START (Sustainable, Thoughtful And Resilient Transformation), which includes planning activities, and PHRESH AIR (Accelerating Implementation and Results), which involves the deployment of roughly 35 pieces of zero-emissions terminal equipment and a drayage truck incentive program.