Full electrification of the US Port of New York and New Jersey could generate annual public health benefits of over $150m: a study

The working paper “Electrifying ports to reduce diesel pollution from ships and trucks and benefit public health: Case studies of the Port of Seattle and the Port of New York and New Jersey” from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) looks at the potential impacts on air quality and public health of full electrification of the ports.

Both the port of Seattle and Port of New York and New Jersey have electrification plans underway, but the study forecasts the impact of full electrification – 100% shore power for ocean going vessels at berth, 100% electrification of harbour craft, and 100% electrification of trucks in the port.

Using computer models to estimate the impact of such measures, authors Zhihang Meng and Bryan Comer, Ph.D. found that average concentrations of fine particulate matter near the Port of Seattle could be cut by 0.3–0.42 μg/cu m, compared to a 2019 average of 7.5 μg/cu m. The area effected by emissions from the Port of Seattle could also be cut from from 292.1 sq km to 54.5 sq km.

“Air quality improvement near the Port of Seattle under the full electrification scenario is estimated to provide monetized health benefits of over $27 million annually. For the Port of NY/NJ, air quality improvement is expected to translate to at least $150 million of health benefits per year,” said the paper.

The total area affected by Port of NY/NJ emissions could be cut from 2,172.3 sq km to 504.5 sq km, with significant improvements in air quality in both the City of Elizabeth and Jersey City. Oceangoing vessels were found to be the biggest contributors to emissions of carbon dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Full electrification could reduce port fine particulate emissions by 75% at the Port of Seattle and 69% for NY/NJ, said the report.

The full report can be accessed online.