Sponsors (2)
The bill directs substantial federal funding, coordination, and workforce support to accelerate zero‑emission maritime technology and improve air quality and jobs, but does so at significant taxpayer cost and with labor, eligibility, transparency, and implementation requirements that could raise project costs, slow some deployments, or exclude some technologies and partners.
Ports, shipping companies, manufacturers, and operators can access $1 billion per year (FY2027–2036) in grants, loans, and loan guarantees to deploy zero‑emission vessels and shore/onshore charging/fueling infrastructure, lowering long‑term fuel and operating costs.
Coastal and urban communities (and marine environments) will see reduced air pollution and underwater noise as shore power, onshore charging, and zero‑emission vessels are accelerated.
Maritime workers, shipbuilders, and students gain expanded workforce training, hiring opportunities, and stronger job standards through workforce‑development grants, nonprofit/academic partnerships, and project labor agreement language.
Taxpayers will fund $1 billion per year for ten years (plus administrative costs), increasing federal spending and creating opportunity costs for other programs and priorities.
Prevailing wage (Davis‑Bacon) rules, project labor agreement expectations, and up to a 10% administrative set‑aside raise labor and overhead costs, which could reduce the number of projects funded or require larger grants/loans.
The strict 90% lifecycle GHG threshold and limits on eligible entities to U.S. owners/manufacturers risk excluding emerging lower‑carbon fuels and foreign partners, narrowing project options and potentially deterring investment.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOT program to fund zero-emission vessels and shore charging/fueling infrastructure with grants/loans and $1B/year authorized for FY2027–FY2036.
Official title: Direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to support the research, design, development, demonstration, and deployment of zero-emission vessels and retrofit or replacement of existing vessels with zero-emission vessel technologies and charging infrastructure or fueling infrastructure, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 24, 2026 by Christopher Van Hollen · Last progress June 24, 2026
Creates a Department of Transportation program to accelerate zero-emission ships and related shore charging/fueling infrastructure by funding research, development, demonstration, deployment, retrofit, and replacement projects. The program may provide grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees, requires prevailing wages for construction work, forbids use of funds for automated vessel or cargo-handling systems, and is authorized $1 billion per year for FY2027–FY2036. The law also requires public posting of funding applications, establishes selection priorities (including environmental justice, workforce training, and community benefits agreements), and creates a standing advisory committee to advise the Secretary and Maritime Administrator and report regularly to Congress.