Hydrogen for Ports Act

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to support hydrogen-fueled equipment at ports and to conduct a study with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security on the feasibility and safety of using hydrogen-derived fuels, including ammonia, as a shipping fuel. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hydrogen for Ports Act 2. Maritime modernization grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (2) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 25 U.S.C. 5304 (3) Low-income or disadvantaged community The term low-income or disadvantaged community (4) Program The term program (5) Secretary The term Secretary (b) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for— (1) the purchase, installation, construction, facilitation, maintenance, or operation of, as appropriate— (A) hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled cargo-handling equipment, including, at a minimum, equipment used for drayage applications; (B) hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia-fueled trucks for use at ports; (C) hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia-fueled ferries, tugboats, dredging vessels, container ships, bulk carriers, fuel tankers, and other marine vessels; (D) hydrogen fuel cell-based shore power for ships while docked at the port; (E) hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia onsite power plants; and (F) port infrastructure for hydrogen or ammonia import, export, storage, and fueling; and (2) the training of ship crew and shore personnel to handle hydrogen or ammonia. (c) Goals The goals of the program shall be— (1) to demonstrate fuel cell, hydrogen, or ammonia technologies in maritime and associated logistics applications; (2) to assist in the development and validation of technical targets for hydrogen, ammonia, and fuel cell systems for maritime and associated logistics applications; (3) to benchmark the conditions required for broad commercialization of hydrogen, ammonia, and fuel cell technologies in maritime and associated logistics applications; (4) to assess the operational and technical considerations for installing, constructing, and using hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled equipment and supporting infrastructure at ports; and (5) to reduce emissions and improve air quality in areas in and around ports. (d) Eligible entities (1) In general An entity eligible to receive a grant under the program is— (A) a State; (B) a political subdivision of a State; (C) a local government; (D) a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; (E) a special purpose district with a transportation function; (F) an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (G) a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F); or (H) subject to paragraph (2), a private entity or group of private entities, including the owners or operators of 1 or more facilities at a port. (2) Joint eligibility with private entities A private entity or group of private entities is eligible for a grant under the program if— (A) the private entity or group of private entities partners with an entity described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1) for purposes of applying for, and carrying out activities under, the grant; and (B) the entity described in the applicable subparagraph of that paragraph is the lead entity with respect to the application and those activities. (e) Applications (1) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Requirement The application of an eligible entity described in subparagraph (H) of subsection (d)(1) shall be submitted jointly with an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of that subsection. (f) Considerations In providing grants under the program, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall— (1) select projects that will generate the greatest benefit to low-income or disadvantaged communities; and (2) select projects that will— (A) maximize the creation or retention of jobs in the United States; and (B) provide the highest job quality. (g) Priority In selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that will provide greater net impact in avoiding or reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. (h) Leak detection Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall conduct— (1) a hydrogen leakage monitoring, reporting, and verification (also known as MRV (2) a hydrogen leak detection and repair (also known as LDAR (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (j) Prohibition on use of funds None of the funds made available under this section may be used to provide a grant to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of Transportation determines such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within a port or port terminal. 3. Study (a) In general The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a study— (1) to fully address the challenges to ensure the safe use and handling of hydrogen, ammonia, and other hydrogen-based fuels on vessels and in ports; (2) to identify, compare, and evaluate the feasibility of, the safety, environmental, and health impacts of, and best practices with respect to, the use of hydrogen-derived fuels, including ammonia, as a shipping fuel; (3) to identify and evaluate considerations for hydrogen and ammonia storage, including— (A) at ports; (B) on board vessels; and (C) for subsea hydrogen storage; and (4) to assess the cost and value of a hydrogen or ammonia strategic reserve, either as a new facility or as a modification to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve established under part B of title I of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6231 et seq. (b) Requirements In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (1) take into account lessons learned from demonstration projects in other industries, including— (A) projects carried out in the United States; (B) projects carried out in other countries; and (C) projects relating to the automotive industry, buses, petroleum refining, chemical production, fertilizer production, and stationary power; and (2) evaluate the applicability of the lessons described in paragraph (1) to the use of hydrogen in maritime and associated logistics applications.

Summary: Hydrogen for Ports ActThis bill supports infrastructure for hydrogen-derived fuels, including ammonia, at ports and in the shipping industry. Specifically, the Department of Energy must establish a program for infrastructure that supports the use of such fuels at ports and in the shipping industry. States, local governments, tribal governments, certain private entities, and other eligible entities may apply for grants.