Port of Virginia pursues net-zero port operations with $380 million investment

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The Port of Virginia will invest $380 million to transform its port operations with the goal of fully eliminating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The port will allocate the funds to procure electric equipment, build the infrastructure to support that equipment and advance the port’s goal to achieve zero-emissions operations by 2040.

While ports play an essential role in transporting goods and people throughout the country, they heavily rely on equipment and infrastructure that produce significant amounts of GHG. These pollutants disproportionately affect nearby communities, lowering air quality, affecting public health and furthering climate change. The shipping industry, including global port operations, is estimated to produce up to 850 million metric tons of CO2 annually.

The Port of Virginia is one of dozens of ports nationwide refurbishing their operations to mitigate air pollution without reducing productivity. The port will prioritize sustainability, enacting a 15-year plan to reduce carbon emissions to zero, rely on 100% clean electricity and deploy the largest fleet of hybrid equipment in the nation.

The funds will enable the port to retire more than 150 pieces of legacy equipment. The equipment being replaced includes:

Specialized cranes for rail operations and yards.
Shuttle carriers.
Electric locomotives.
On-terminal trucks.
Shuttle buses.

The electrification plan will not work without corresponding infrastructure. To that end, the Port of Virginia will build supplementary zero-emission infrastructure at its terminals to handle its equipment. Plans also include developing battery charging infrastructure and energy storage to expand zero-emissions operations.

Currently, the port has already achieved powering its terminals with 100% clean energy, a milestone crossed eight years ahead of schedule. Port officials are committed to developing the nation’s first net-zero port, with the recent allotment advancing related projects. Achieving that vision will require additional investment and projects over the next 15 years. The port outlined its milestones and future plans in its 2023 sustainability report. Some of these plans include: