The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded PortMiami a $25 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to acquire electric and hybrid cargo handling equipment. PortMiami says its Electrification Project will replace diesel equipment with new machinery, which will reduce maintenance, greenhouse gases, and other emissions from the port.
The grant will fund a total of hybrid trucks, electrical terminal tractors, dual charging stations, and the infrastructure to connect and charge the equipment for two cargo terminals. The Electrification Project will also replace existing diesel-powered reefer (refrigerated) generators with new all-electric reefer outlets.
“I want to thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Buttigieg for their continued support of PortMiami and Miami-Dade County’s innovative programs,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “The transition to electric equipment provides job opportunities for the Port’s workforce development programs, while protecting the environment for future generations. Having a future-ready infrastructure will allow PortMiami to work and grow more efficiently and sustainably.”
On October 21, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced more than $4.2 billion in funding for a total of 44 projects from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda through two major discretionary grant programs, the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program.
PortMiami has been working to lower emissions for many years from building management systems, which monitor the use of electricity in its cruise terminals, to electric cranes, investments with cargo partners for electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, gates, yard equipment, and on-dock intermodal rail service. The Port also has a $4.2 Billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) over the next five years, all centered around Net Zero efforts. The seaport has a visionary and transformational program to develop the nation’s first end-to-end net zero carbon emission supply chain, in line with Miami-Dade County’s 2030 goal to reduce emissions by 50%. Future CIP projects include hybrid/electric tugboats, new super Post Panamax electric gantry cranes, cargo yard modifications, railyard capacity upgrades, and other renewable energy sources.
PortMiami is recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World and Global Gateway of the Americas. The port is among Miami-Dade County’s largest economic engines contributing $61 billion annually to the local economy and supporting more than 340,000 jobs.
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