By the time it celebrates its centennial in 2027, the Port of Oakland may be a global showcase in fighting climate change. On Oct. 29, the Port announced it had received the largest amount of federal funding ever awarded to a Bay Area program aimed at cutting emissions from seaport cargo operations. As part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the $322-million-dollar grant will fast-track the Port’s conversion to nearly 100% zero-emissions cargo handling. On Dec. 19, grant specifications will go to the Port’s board of directors for approval, and steps to begin to execute the project will begin by the end of this year, according to Kristi McKenney, the Port’s chief operating officer. The grant proposal, titled “Community Led, Business Supported, Proven and Ready to Go! Transforming the Port of Oakland to Zero Emissions,” will finance 663 pieces of zero-emissions equipment, including 475 drayage trucks and 188 pieces of cargo-handling equipment, according to Port materials. “The EPA funding follows recent state and federal grant wins for the Port, including critical support to deploy green energy microgrids, hydrogen fueling infrastructure and equipment, battery electric storage systems, and renewable solar power at the Port,” its materials state. This is significant for the state, because the Port of Oakland “is the major gateway for 99% of waterborne goods moving through Northern California.” But this massive grant’s approval could not have been achieved without the partnership of and input from community partners such as Black Cultural Zone (BCZ), the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), West Oakland Cultural Action Network and the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, “who will stay with us throughout the implementation of the project,” McKenney said. Carolyn Johnson, executive director of BCZ, praised the collaboration with the Port as the grant proposal advanced. Workforce training for green jobs, including construction, and small business opportunities will be opened up with grant funding, she noted.  “This is part of the next evolution of the workforce of the future,” McKenney said. Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, climate campaign director, ports, for international organization Pacific Environment, said PE has worked closely with the WOEIP, in a coalition that also includes Earth Justice and the Environmental Defense Fund, among others, since 2023. “WOEIP has been working for decades [to reduce pollution at the Port],” she said. In this case, the grant guidelines specified environmental justice and community engagement as essential.  The success of the grant proposal, McKenney said, has been “the partnerships … that represent the ‘it takes a village concept.’” Another part of the wide coalition of partners are the workforce development agencies, including the Machinist’s Institute, the Pacific Maritime Association and the West Oakland Jobs Resource Center. These will be vital, agreed Johnson and McKenney, for training people in the building, installing, and operating of the electrical and hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure. Yet another component is a long list of industry, technical and public agency partners, among them the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. BAAQMD, for example,  is responsible for administering the air quality improvements mandated under California’s AB-617, with West Oakland selected in 2018 for a “community emissions reduction program,” primarily because of its long history of pollution caused by truck traffic and cargo ships at the Port. The ships emit large amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from their diesel engines.  With this grant, the Port of Oakland both helps lead the way for U.S. ports to aim for zero emissions, and follows an international trend for ports’ decarbonization process, Uennatornwaranggoon said. Investment in shore-power infrastructure is happening in many places, but the partnerships involved in this grant “are the model,” she said. All those interviewed saluted the increased engagement of the Port with community groups over the past five years. McKenney called out the priorities and input of Danny Wan, the Port’s executive director since 2019, as being crucial to a changed relationship. Port leadership, said Uennatornwaranggoon, has been “quietly [changing course] to the zero-emission plan. They can embrace their leadership,” she said, demonstrating that “a medium-sized port can do this, helping the eco-system of bringing other ports along.” The grant had the enthusiastic support of Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, and in particular, outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee. But incoming President Trump has threatened to try and claw back funds allocated through the IRA. McKenney sounded a note of confidence that the grant would not be affected, but Uennatornwaranggoon urged quick action to have details finalized and a contract signed before the end of the year.