Remarks for the Port of Savannah Investing in America Event, As Prepared for Delivery
Michael Regan
Savannah, Georgia
Hello, everyone. It’s an honor to join you all in beautiful Savannah.
Senator Ossoff, thank you for that introduction, and thank you for welcoming us to the great state of Georgia. I’m grateful for your partnership and your commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all Georgians.
I’d also like to thank the Georgia Ports Authority for hosting us here at the Port of Savannah.
When President Biden took office, he launched the most ambitious climate and environmental agenda in our nation’s history. The President vowed to restore America’s position as a global leader in the fight against climate change, while prioritizing the health and safety of our nation’s most vulnerable communities.
Thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and our partners in Congress like Senator Ossoff, we are investing in America like never before and addressing – head on – so many of our country’s longstanding environmental challenges.
One of EPA’s top priorities is ensuring that all people in this country – regardless of the color of their skin, money in their pocket, or community they live in – have clean air to breathe.
But too many communities who reside near our nation’s ports experience unhealthy air quality – these are too often the same communities who are on the frontline of the climate crisis.
Ports are critical for commerce – they’re a keystone of economic growth, and they play a vital role in our supply chain. But we can do more to tackle the pollution that comes with these essential activities.
At EPA, we know that protecting people and the planet doesn’t come at the expense of a booming economy. In fact, healthy communities and a strong economy go hand in hand.
And that’s exactly what President Biden’s historic investments in America are all about – ensuring healthy communities while delivering a globally competitive, 21st century American economy.
That’s also what today’s news is all about.
Today, I’m excited to announce that we are investing $4 billion dollars from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to decarbonize our nation’s transportation sector, reduce harmful climate pollution and advance environmental justice.
The Clean Ports Program will invest $3 billion dollars in technologies that reduce harmful climate pollutants, and the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program will invest $1 billion dollars to help transition heavy-duty trucks and buses to zero-emissions vehicles. Both programs will better protect the health of people living and working near ports, schools, and other truck routes while confronting the climate crisis.
Together, these programs — made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda — will restore our nation’s infrastructure, create good-paying manufacturing jobs, and build a clean energy economy that protects people and the planet.
Stakeholder engagement is key to the success of these programs, and we are officially kickstarting the process of seeking public input to shape them.
EPA wants to hear from all stakeholders to help improve our understanding of zero-emission trucks and port equipment as well as their associated charging and fueling infrastructure requirements.
We invite manufacturers, fleets, ports, municipalities, school districts, utilities, and others who have experience with zero-emission technology to provide feedback to the agency by June 5, 2023.
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to tour the Port of Savannah to see firsthand what some of these projects could look like and the impact this funding will have on port operations across the country.
Through EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), the Georgia Ports Authority has already been awarded more than $9 million dollars in funding to reduce diesel emissions at the port by upgrading and replacing older drayage trucks, cargo handling equipment, and marine engines with new and cleaner models.
EPA’s new Clean Ports and Heavy-duty Vehicle grant programs will go a step further to reduce emissions and improve community air quality through electrification and other zero-emissions technologies while strengthening the clean energy supply chain.
Not only has President Biden committed to bolstering our climate resiliency and protecting communities across our country, but he’s committed to doing so through a whole-of-government approach. That means that from the Department of Defense to the EPA, all federal agencies are rowing in the same direction towards a cleaner and healthier future for all.
In light of that commitment, I’m proud that the Department of Transportation has already made $660 million dollars available for port electrification and other strategies earlier this year. And just last week, DOT announced an additional $160 million in funding available to test, evaluate, and deploy projects that reduce truck emissions at ports.
By modernizing our infrastructure and expanding our investments in renewable energy, we can accelerate our ongoing transition to a clean transportation future, tackle the climate crisis, and improve air quality for communities across our nation.
Together we will build a healthier and cleaner future for our children...a future where all people have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a safe place to live, work, and play.
Thanks to President Biden, this administration is investing in America, and I couldn’t be more optimistic about what’s to come.
Now I’m happy to take a few questions.