THE US Federal Highway Administration has announced a US$26.9 million grant to Port Houston for its clean truck programme.

Port Houston's CLEANSTACS Programme (Catalysing Lower Emissions with Alliances and New Systems in Trucking and Community Sustainability) was one of fewer than 20 projects selected nationwide.

The programme will help fund 30 new zero-emission (ZE) short-haul trucks, and portable electric chargers for battery electric vehicle trucks, to make zero-emission technology accessible and more affordable to owners and operators of small trucking fleets.

The funds will also pay for installing new automated terminal operating systems to help reduce truck idling times, according to London＊s Port Technology.

The Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant is a new programme funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in November of 2021.

Port Houston will use its portion of the grant to subsidise the replacement of existing drayage trucks with new ZE trucks, which can cost upwards of $400,000-$500,000. Fleet owners are responsible for covering 20 per cent of the cost, and both electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks are eligible.

Reducing emissions is great for our environment and our communities, said Port Houston's chief infrastructure officer, Rich Byrnes.