Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Port of Hueneme Gets $3 Million in Federal Funds

By Mark Edward Nero 

The Port of Hueneme will receive more than $3 million in federal grant funding for the purpose of infrastructure improvements and air emission reductions, the port revealed Dec. 26.

“This program will bring nearly $3 million of added funding, underscoring our significant role within our community and California’s economy,” Board of Harbor Commissioners President Jason Hodge said.

Most of the funding, which comes from a branch of the US Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, is expected to go toward the port’s development of state mandated shoreside power at terminals.

The shoreside power project, which would allow ships to cut their engines while at dock, is expected to cut diesel particulate matter by 92 percent, nitrous oxide by 98 percent, and carbon dioxide by 55 percent, according to the port.

The Port of Hueneme, which is run by the Oxnard Harbor District, is located in Ventura County, California, about 80 miles north of Los Angeles. It moves about $7 billion in goods annually.

In addition to the shoreside power project, funding from the grant is earmarked for support of a nonprofit project called FOOD Share, which has a goal of bringing millions of pounds of fresh, healthy and affordable food to underserved areas in Ventura County.