Illinois International Port District Celebrates Clean Ports Funding
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois EPA Director James Jennings November 15 to celebrate funding for Illinois ports provided by U.S. EPA through the Inflation Reduction Act. The first grant, previously announced in July, was funded through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) implementation program, totaling $430 million. Illinois was also selected to receive $95 million through EPA’s Clean Ports Program, announced by EPA in late October.
The IIPD is an Illinois municipal corporation created to promote the shipment of cargoes and commerce through its nearly 2,000 acres of industrial and recreational land on Chicago’s southeast side. The IIPD contributes more than $700 million to the economy per year through its ship and rail ports.
The IIPD was awarded a “significant portion” of the $92 million Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) grant that will support efforts to invest in new green technologies, reduce emissions and improve port infrastructure to position the IIPD for sustainable growth. The IIPD will work with the IEPA in the coming months to determine the full award scope of its part of the grant.
The grant is part of the EPA’s federal grant awards totaling nearly $3 billion, spread among 55 recipient projects in 27 states and U.S. territories. That funding is part of the agency’s Clean Ports Program, enacted by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
“This new funding highlights the strong federal, state and local partnership that supports the IIPD’s revitalization and positions Illinois for even greater economic and environmental success,” the port district said in a press release.
“Each year, the Public Ports of Illinois contribute billions to our state and national economy by moving cargo efficiently and generating fewer emissions than other freight options,” Pritzker said. “Thanks to the support from our federal, state and local partners, the Clean Ports Program award will expand the progress we’ve made through the Rebuild Illinois capital program to further modernize Illinois port infrastructure, meeting future business demands and advancing our climate goals.”
The grant provides the IIPD with opportunities to modernize port functions with technologies including electric vehicle supply equipment, shore power infrastructure, solar and wind power generation, hydrogen fueling infrastructure and battery energy storage systems.
In collaborative partnership with the IEPA, and with support provided by Advanced Energy Group (AEG) in drafting the application for the grant, the IIPD will have a healthy list of options for investing these federal funds.
“The Illinois International Port District is a critical economic asset for Chicago’s southeast side,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “This federal grant supports projects that meet the community’s needs while promoting sustainable practice, environmental remediation and new business opportunities. These green improvements will strengthen our southeast side by creating cleaner, more efficient pathways for cargo in the area.”
“Receiving this grant is transformational for the port and moves us closer to realizing that much larger vision and master plan for the port in an environmentally responsible way,” said Ivan Solis, chairman of the Illinois International Port District. “Other ports across the United States, including here in the Great Lakes, are seeing positive results by pursuing green technology. This grant, combined with our efforts to become more sustainable, will help continue the tradition of being the best, and one day greenest, multimodal port in North America.”
Nationwide, these awards will go to support zero emission equipment and infrastructure, climate and air quality planning activities at ports as well as the purchase of more than 1,500 “units” of cargo-handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, 20 vessels and charging infrastructure.
Situated on the Great Lakes waterway, connected to the largest U.S. rail access point and located in America’s third largest city, the IIPD said it is undergoing significant revitalization and investment to become a green “multimodal hub of the future,” integrating multiple transportation modes and smart technology and prioritizing sustainability.
