Ports of Indiana receives $500,000 grant from U.S. EPA Clean Ports to study emissions reduction at Jeffersonville, Mount Vernon ports

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Ports of Indiana will receive a $500,000 grant to study emission-reduction activities at its Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon ports on the Ohio River.

Ports of Indiana is among 55 projects at ports nationwide to receive grants from EPA’s Clean Ports Program (CPP), which was enacted in 2022 by Congress as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The grant is part of CPP’s Climate and Air Quality Planning (CAQP) initiative, which funds climate and air quality planning activities at U.S. ports to build the capacity of port stakeholders to continue reducing pollution and transitioning to zero-emissions operations.

The grant will be used to conduct decarbonization planning at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville and Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. This includes developing emission inventories, analyzing reduction strategies, and planning for future port emission reductions.

“Maritime transportation is the most environmentally friendly way to move cargo and we’re extremely pleased to receive an EPA grant that will help us explore ways to improve our port operations,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “As the state port authority, we are committed to being a good environmental steward and neighborhood partner for our port communities while we strive to grow the Indiana economy.”

Indiana is one of 23 states and territories that received $60 million in CAQP funding.

“The Ports of Indiana staff and external partners did a tremendous job of preparing our grant application through an honest assessment of our strengths and potential areas of improvement,” said Kristin Brier, Ports of Indiana Vice President of Integrated Planning and Sustainable Development. “We are excited to get started on the assessment and engagement phases and, in the near future, turn data into action that results in a lower carbon footprint for operations at the ports.”