Clean Ports Program
ABOUT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected Port Houston to receive a nearly $3 million climate and air quality planning grant through EPA’s Clean Ports Program (CPP).
Port Houston’s CPP grant application is named PORT SHIFT (Ports Optimizing Resilient Transportation through Sustainable, Human, Innovative, and Forward-looking Technology) and is designed to be a comprehensive program of specific initiatives to accelerate the adoption of cleaner technology and support resiliency planning.
So far, seven (7) workstreams have been initiated from the PORT SHIFT Program. It is anticipated that workstream implementation will span across the next few years, depending on the scope of each initiative.
If you have a question relating to any of Port Houston’s CPP workstreams, please contact [email protected].
Additional Resources:
PORT SHIFT is funded by the U.S. EPA under grant number 02F78301 to the Port of Houston Authority (Port Houston). The contents of this webpage do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA.
CPP WORKSTREAMS STATUS
Scope of work:
- Undertake a GHG emissions inventory of Port Houston’s operations and value chain.
- Identify relevant sources of GHG emissions so specific decarbonization/cleaner air initiatives can be prioritized.
Progress:
March 2026 – Consultant submitted initial information request to determine data availability and next steps.
April 2026
- Inventory data collection continued and is focused on calendar years 2024 and 2025.
- As part of our on-going data collection efforts, outreach to Port Houston tenants has been initiated.
- Two GHG inventory information sessions are planned for April 2026. Registration details below.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Virtual information sessions are planned periodically throughout the duration of this workstream to communicate progress.
- Information sessions will communicate objectives, methodologies, findings, and recommendations.
- Port Houston GHG Inventory Information Session 1 – April 28th 6-7 pm (CT) – must register to attend, click here
- Port Houston GHG Inventory Information Session 2 – April 30th 10.30-11.30 am (CT) – must register to attend, click here
Scope of work:
- Engage Port Houston staff on climate-related vulnerabilities/risks/impacts and observed operational experiences that will inform our resiliency planning.
- Develop a resilience action plan for Port Houston.
Progress:
March 2026
- Consultant submitted initial information request to determine data availability and next steps.
- Met with H-GAC to discuss potential regional resilience action planning support.
April 2026
- Turning Basin terminal vulnerability assessment workshop completed.
- Met with C2ES to discuss potential regional resilience action planning support.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals vulnerability assessment workshop planned for May 2026.
- First Port Houston resilience action plan employee engagement session planned for June 2026.
Scope of work:
- Conduct a truck route analysis that will assess the effects of drayage and container truck routes accessing Port Houston terminal facilities, with a focus on near-port communities.
- The objective is to identify and quantify truck volumes, cut-through patterns, related community burdens, and then develop actionable recommendations.
Progress:
March 2026
- Consultant submitted initial information request to determine data availability and next steps.
- Consultant collected truck mobility count data.
April 2026
- Consultant analyzed data collected to determine next steps.
- Information session held with trucking industry representatives.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Virtual information sessions are planned periodically throughout the duration of this workstream to communicate progress.
- Information sessions will communicate objectives, methodologies, findings, and recommendations.
- Anticipate additional information sessions will be held in Q2 2026.
Scope of work:
- Establish trucking industry collaborative to facilitate discussion on transitioning local drayage companies to cleaner operations.
- Explore truck technologies, operational efficiencies, and industry partnerships to achieve decarbonization/cleaner air goals.
- Identify current barriers to truck replacement and develop strategies needed to transition trucks.
Progress:
March 2026
- Consultant worked with Port Houston staff to identify and invite members to join trucking industry collaborative.
- Inaugural meeting of the trucking industry collaborative was held in February 2026.
April 2026
- A series of mini-collaboration working group sessions were held throughout April.
- Preparation for second trucking industry collaborative meeting.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Second meeting of the trucking industry collaborative scheduled for May 2026.
Scope of work:
- PHPME is a non-profit organization designed to inform and educate youth and young adults about maritime career opportunities in: (1) Ports Operations & Logistics; (2) Mariner & Sea-Going; (3) Cruise Ships & Recreational Boating; and (4) Shipbuilding & Ship Repair.
- Develop a PHPME website to support our regional maritime education, career exploration, and workforce development initiatives.
Progress:
March 2026 – Consultant actively working with Port Houston staff to develop PHPME website.
April 2026 – Website moved from design-to-development, and included the following benchmarks:
- Wireframe template was developed, and user-testing successfully completed.
- Initial website mock-up was presented, and design systems were approved.
- Consultant and Port Houston team collaborated on web content and support materials like blog posts, articles, FAQs, and resources that guide potential students, parents, teachers, and industry partners through multiple stages of their journey.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Anticipate the PHPME website will go live in Q2 2026.
Scope of work:
- Collaborate with community, maritime, and industrial stakeholders to obtain feedback on the various CPP workstreams and Port Houston initiatives.
- Conduct meaningful stakeholder engagement to meet the goals of the CPP.
Progress:
Pre-March 2026 – Industry engagement with select Houston Ship Channel companies was completed in H2 2025. This engagement assessed corporate social responsibility strategies to inform a potential regional strategy approach. Information gathered will be used to inform the Port Houston Community Plan, which is scheduled to be publicly released in Q2 2026.
March 2026
- Provided CPP updates to the Port Commission Community Advisory Council (PCCAC).
- Provided CPP updates to the Healthy Port Communities Coalition (HPCC).
- This CPP webpage and email went live.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- As detailed on this webpage, specific stakeholder engagement events are planned for the various CPP workstreams.
- Port Houston has and will continue to provide regular CPP updates to the PCCAC. The PCCAC is comprised of 18 members representing communities along the Houston Ship Channel and various special interest groups.
- Port Houston has and will continue to provide regular CPP updates to the HPCC. The HPCC is a coalition of non-profit, community and environmental organizations that advocate for protecting public health and safety in communities impacted by the Houston Ship Channel.
Scope of work:
- Identify and analyze suitable equipment options based on operational needs, budget, and decarbonization/cleaner air goals.
- Develop terminal-specific equipment roadmaps to transition Barbours Cut, Bayport and Turning Basin terminals to cleaner operations.
Progress:
March 2026 – Consultant submitted initial information request to determine data availability and next steps.
April 2026 – Consultant analyzed data collected to determine next steps.
Planned Stakeholder Engagement:
- Virtual information sessions are planned periodically throughout the duration of this initiative to communicate progress.
- Information sessions will communicate objectives, methodologies, findings, and recommendations.
- Anticipate first information session will be in Q2 2026.
CPP Program Partners
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