WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) announced $12 million in federal funding for the Northwest Seaport Alliance to facilitate the development of shared electric truck charging hubs in the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
The funds, sourced from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), legislation endorsed by Jayapal, aims to reduce emissions and enhance air quality in communities burdened by air pollution.
Expressing the importance of Washington’s ports, particularly those in Seattle and Tacoma, Jayapal emphasized their critical role in the local economy and supply chains. She stated, “Ensuring these hubs have the funds they need to build clean energy infrastructure is an investment that will go a long way toward protecting our environment.”
Having actively supported the Infrastructure Law, Jayapal lauded the allocation of funding to construct electric truck charging hubs catering to the thousands of heavy-duty trucks facilitating cargo transportation to and from the ports on a daily basis. The initiative aims not only to bolster the efficiency of transportation but also to significantly curtail emissions, thereby improving air quality for communities residing near these transportation centers.
The allocated funds will be instrumental in aiding the Northwest Seaport Alliance in orchestrating a competitive program dedicated to the development of shared electric truck charging hubs. These hubs are set to service a network of approximately 4,500 heavy-duty trucks engaged in cargo-hauling operations for the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. The anticipated outcome includes a notable reduction in emissions emanating from an estimated 300 diesel trucks.
Highlighting her ongoing advocacy for the project, Jayapal disclosed that she had penned a supportive letter for the initiative in 2023. Moreover, she has actively sought additional funding for the project in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills. As of now, this funding has been included in the preliminary round of negotiations, awaiting the final passage of the FY24 appropriations bills.
