The EPA process to finalize the grant agreements is complicated and depends upon a federal bureaucracy that isn’t renowned for speed

See Ports Race Against the Political Calendar to Secure $3 Billion in Clean-Energy Grants: The federal support could be rescinded by a new administration if projects aren’t finalized soon by Paul Berger of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"Ports around the U.S. are rushing to nail down green-energy projects to ensure they receive their portions of $3 billion in new federal grants, funding that faces tight government deadlines and potential disruption from the presidential election.

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the money this week to dozens of ports for investments such as new solar arrays, upgrades to electric shore power and purchases of thousands of new electric- and hydrogen-powered heavy-duty lifting equipment and trucks.  

The agency aims to finalize most of the 55 awards by the end of December so that the federal government is legally bound to make the payouts, said Ian Gansler, director of government relations at the American Association of Port Authorities. 

The process is playing out against the backdrop of an election next week that will usher in a new administration and amid Democratic concerns that a Republican White House might roll back green spending.

The EPA process to finalize the grant agreements is complicated and depends upon a federal bureaucracy that isn’t renowned for speed. “Our ports have had complicated and difficult experiences with grant obligations on just about every grant program at federal level,” the AAPA’s Gansler said. “It’s not a given.”"

"The awards aren’t guaranteed until the EPA formally obligates the money for each project, a senior EPA official said. 

To reach that stage, the ports and the EPA must sign off on a work plan, a budget and compliance with federal rules and regulations."

"California is moving to mandate the purchase of heavy-duty trucks powered by batteries or hydrogen. But adoption of the new technologies has been slow. Clean technology trucks can cost three times more than conventional diesel vehicles and access to charging and refueling infrastructure is scarce."