Port of Oakland’s Post

In April 2023, the California Air Resources Board voted to ban fossil fuel-powered big rigs from obtaining new registrations to serve the state’s 12 major seaports, a landmark rule that was slated to go into effect on Jan. 1. But one year later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not granted a waiver for California’s so-called Advanced Clean Fleets rule. As a result, state air regulators have been unable to enforce the regulation, which has allowed trucking companies and independent operators to continue adding diesel-snorting big rigs that can pollute port communities for up to a decade. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gpZ4Q7TF 

💍 California Air Resources Board already said “I DO”, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) why can’t you? In just one click, add your name to urge the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve lifesaving air quality amendments 👉 🔗 💘 https://lnkd.in/eUJehNUS The California Air Resources Board estimates that the updated Commercial Harbor Craft Rule will save more than 531 lives, save $5.25 billion in public health care costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 415,000 metric tons over 15 years. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): What are you waiting for? #ClimateCrisis #shipping #AirQuality #pollution #PollutionFreePorts #ValentinesDay

ConservAmerica, along with C3 Solutions and American Conservation Coalition, submitted comments this week to the Environmental Protection Agency on whether the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) In-Use Locomotive Regulation meets the criteria for a waiver of federal preemption under section 209 of the Clean Air Act. Rail is the most efficient form of on-land freight transportation and far more fuel efficient than trucking: it is roughly one-tenth the emissions intensity of trucking on a ton-per-mile basis. https://lnkd.in/gbS3gkna

An increase in emergency petitions this summer at the US Supreme Court could lead to a flood of challenges to the Biden administration's air emissions plans. #AirQuality attorney Emily Schilling shared insights with Bloomberg Law saying “For EPA generally, this movement towards the Supreme Court being willing to hear stay motions is going to make implementation of any environmental statutory program, if not more difficult, then it certainly will create more uncertainty.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-hMjBcV #AirPollution #Ozone #SCOTUS

Assessing the full lifecycle of marine fuels offers a thorough way for the shipping industry to manage its environmental impact 🚢 And as we approach International Maritime Organization's 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting next month, it's more crucial than ever that we adopt a more comprehensive strategy to ensure a truly sustainable fuel economy. Environmental Defense Fund's Natacha Stamatiou explores the importance of adopting a Well-to-Wake (WtW) lifecycle assessment framework in a new Bunkerspot op-ed: https://bit.ly/4fXalIr

John Deem with Savannah Morning News & savannahnow.com takes a deeper look at issues around the water needs of the #Hyundai #Megasite. "But experts – and comments from the federal agency that enforces the Clean Water Act – suggest Tollison’s reply misses the point of the question. The Clean Water Act does make clear that states are responsible for regulating drinking water, but it also directs #USACE to account for “probable impact including cumulative impacts” on factors including “water supply and conservation” in its environmental assessment. In other words, USACE can’t dictate where a project will get its water and how much it can use, but the corps is expected to weigh those factors in reviewing applications for permits required by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, explained Stan Meiburg, former deputy administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who spent nearly 40 years with the agency." Read the entire article: https://lnkd.in/eG5VVyE5 #CleanWater #Georgia #EPA

Warning - this is an inspirational piece of writing! As laid out, here is hope for the Federal EPA and other agencies to continue their regulatory role even after the Chevron Supreme Court ruling. Love the hope this article provides. Many thanks to Chris Baker for enlighten us about it!

#ModernizationMonday In their push to modernize infrastructure, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has announced funding of up to 125 million USD, for the upgrade or replacement of older diesel fuelled equipment with greener ones. "In addition to funding new cleaner diesel technologies, more than half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks and shore power to marine vessels. Some of the recipients include the Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Georgia Ports Authority, South Carolina Ports Authority, Virginia Port Authority, etc." The inclusion of shore power and battery powered terminal tractors is a huge boost for local communities near ports in air and noise pollution. It will also help in slashing scope 3 emissions for freight owners and maintainance costs of auxiliary engines for ship owners. It can also create more localised jobs to maintain the green equipment. Will more initiatives follow suit? Feel free to comment below. #shorepower #electricvehicles

There was plenty of discussion last week at the 2024 Offshore Renewable Energy Forum about the critical role that #ports will play in supporting offshore renewable energy development; as well as the scale of investment required to unlock these opportunities in #NewZealand. 💡 Arup's report “Practical Pathways for Port Decarbonization and Environmental Justice” highlights ways in which ports can reduce thier emmissions and use thier influence to drive decarbonization in thier supply chain. #Taranaki #OffshoreEnergy #Decommissioning

We need more holistically minded net-zero pathways like this one, integrating decarbonization outcomes with environmental justice and equity outcomes. Loving the statement about once-in-a-generation investment made in the Practical Pathways for Port Decarbonization and Environmental Justice report: "This brings a unique opportunity for U.S. ports to not only decrease pollution in port communities and improve public health, but also to re-center and elevate the voices of community members in collaboratively advancing environmental justice goals. This can occur in tandem with ports improving the “safety, efficiency and reliability”."