On the heels of a port strike that nearly crippled the nation's supply chain.

Federal and state leaders today gathered at the Port of Newark.

This time, though, for a less contentious announcement, nearly $400 million awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to electrify the port's cargo, equipment and trucks.

Also, to reduce the number of polluting vehicles that roll in and out of the port on a daily basis.

It's part of a $3 billion pot of money, President Biden announced on Tuesday at a port in Baltimore.

As the administration looks to clean up the environmental impact of the nation's freight line.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has that story.

We are so happy to announce the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to receive 344 million.

And C Street Ferry Company to receive over $54 million.

Federal, state and local leaders gathered at Port Newark today to celebrate nearly $400 million coming from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Program to help clean and green the activity around the ports in Newark, Elizabeth and Bayonne.

Today, it's about reducing carbon emissions while building resiliency.

It's about protecting our environment without sacrificing the efficiency and economic impact of our port.

And it means creating countless good paying jobs.

The grant is part of a total $3 billion announced today for clean ports programs around the country.

That funding coming from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had to apply for the grant that they say will cut some 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

They weren't the only winners.

In new Jersey, 540 million was also awarded to the Delaware River and Bay Authority's for the Cape May Lewes ferry terminals.

I applaud the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for its commitments to environmental justice and the fight against climate change, and this funding will advance the shared goals of increasing air quality and emissions reductions at the port.

The funding breaks down into three major buckets 344 million to electrify port operations, 54 million to the C Street Ferry Company and 3 million from the Climate Air Quality Planning Program.

That that'll create a community advisory committee to give local residents input on the plans.

Port authority director Bethann Rooney explains how the 344 million will be spent on four major programs in and around the port one to help replace cargo handling equipment, which is all the specialized machinery that is used in the container terminals to move the containers on and off the ships, on and off trains, and on and off of trucks.

The second component will be used to allow ships to plug in when they arrive here at the port, so that they're not continuing to burn their diesel engines while they're they're sitting here for 24, 36, 48 hours at a time.

Third will be a voucher incentive program to help truck drivers upgrade their trucks to a zero emission capability.

All of that funding will be supported by basic infrastructure.

So upgrading the electric grid to support that.

And then the fourth component is workforce development and workforce training.

So that the workforce here at the port, both in the terminals and with the trucking community, know how to operate and maintain the new equipment.

Rooney gives it 6 to 9 months before any of the new zero emission equipment makes it to the port.

As for the Sea Streak ferry, 54 million will go to upgrading the fleet to zero emission ferries.

When New York and New Jersey people take the ferries back and forth.

And so it's a real win win win.

As I said, to reduce climate pollution and reduce air pollution.

A major driver of this work came from environmental justice organizations advocating for cleaner air and less pollution in those communities adjacent to the port that, they say, bear the brunt of the pollution from port activity, while the rest of the region only enjoys the economic gains.

As a mother of three asthmatic children living in a community, the South Ward of Newark, which we referred to as the Devil's Diesel Death Zone.

Now, today, I can say that that is going to change with this funding and the collaboration and support that we're receiving.

We can lift the GDP, create jobs, you know, fund our economy, grow opportunity.

And at the same time, make sure, that the social determinants of health that affect the lives of our kids every single day are solid or good, allowing them to live longer lives.

It's going to take some time to get these programs underway, and some of them will be refined through the input of the community advisory board.

But in the end, reducing 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide will have a massive impact on this region.

At Port Newark, I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.