EPA highlights air quality grants at Port of Houston

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy visited the Port of Houston today to promote grants aimed at improving air quality.

“As the leading port in the nation for environmental stewardship, we are pleased with the announcement of the award of substantial EPA grants to improve regional air quality,” Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria said. “As part of the Port Authority’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, we have worked to reduce emissions from our own operations and those of our tenants, as well as the broader Port of Houston.”

The port will receive approximately $900,000 in funding as part of the EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant program for clean diesel projects at U.S. ports. The grants are located in areas where localities need the most help with local air quality, and the money will help replace 25 older drayage trucks with trucks powered by certified engines that are model year 2011 or newer.

“Replacing old, high polluting diesel engines with new, cleaner technology is always a good investment,” Houston-Galveston Area Council Executive Director Jack Steele said. “The grant funding awarded today is essential to ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and improve quality of life in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria region.”