Port Houston is bolstering its sustainability efforts with a $25 million grant from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to develop the Bayport Hydrogen Refueling Station (Bayport HRS) in Bayport, Texas.  The Bayport HRS will help advance those efforts by providing publicly accessible, pipeline-based fueling options that will support the decarbonization of heavy-duty trucks and drive supply chain growth across Texas and the Gulf Coast region. This project aligns with Port Houston’s Sustainability Action Plan, which aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.  Additionally, the Bayport HRS will also support the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy and the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.  Linde, a global leader in industrial gases, will own and operate the station, overseeing its design and construction. Additional partners on the project include the Center for Houston’s Future, GTI Energy and Argonne National Laboratory.  “Partnering with Linde., one of the largest hydrogen producers in the world and owner of a major pipeline complex that serves the Houston region, is in line with the Port’s strategy of engaging the Houston Ship Channel industry on projects that benefit the community, promote sustainability, decarbonization, and clean transportation” Port Houston Chief Infrastructure Officer Rich Byrnes said in a press release. “This project exemplifies Port Houston ‘walking the talk’ of sustainability and Net Zero.  Port Houston’s sustainability roadmap and grants strategy is about accelerating and de-risking business decisions supporting decarbonization and energy transition.”  The project marks another significant federal investment in Houston’s clean hydrogen initiatives. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy selected Houston as the site of the Gulf Coast HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub, a cornerstone effort to establish a clean hydrogen ecosystem in the region. With the development of Bayport HRS, Houston further solidifies its position as a leader in the global energy transition.  "The Houston/Gulf Coast's regional clean hydrogen economy continues to gain momentum, including with announcements such as this," said Brett Perlman, managing director at the Center for Houston's Future, in a statement. "We are excited to be part of this important work to build out a clean hydrogen transportation network. This is also another great example of collaboration among business, government and community to get things done."  Learn more about Houston’s Energy Transition Initiative. 

Port Houston is experiencing a remarkable surge in activity, setting new records in container volume, welcoming its largest ship to date and securing substantial funding for its innovative program aimed at reducing emissions.  Port Houston hit an early-year milestone in September moving more than three million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a record pace reflecting increased demand and surpassing 2023 levels by 10 percent.  “At Port Houston we are moving more containers than ever before, having reached the three million TEU mark already this year,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston, in a statement. “This milestone reflects strong customer demand and our commitment to delivering a low cost and low risk proposition to our customers that is anchored in service excellence. I am proud to be a member of the Port Houston team during these exciting times and am committed to continuing our investments in people and infrastructure to stay ahead of the demand.”  Other metrics indicating growth at the port include a 25 percent increase in steel imports for September alone and total tonnage of 39,444,673 year-to-date, marking a four percent increase compared to last year.  Port Houston reached another significant milestone last month with the arrival of the 1,188-foot-long CMA CGM CASSIOPEIA, the largest ship ever to dock at Bayport Container Terminal. This vessel arrived with 11,356 TEUs, moving over 7,000 containers during its stay. The port expects to accommodate 15,000 TEU neo-Panamax vessels regularly at Bayport by November.  Complementing its operational milestones, Port Houston has also received nearly $3 million in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. This funding will bolster the port’s PORT SHIFT program (Ports Optimizing Resilient Transportation through Sustainable, Human, Innovative, and Forward-looking Technology), to incorporate zero-emissions technology across Port Houston’s ecosystem, enhancing both environmental performance and community health.  “PORT SHIFT is about more than moving cargo—it’s about building a port that’s prepared for the future and a community that’s healthier and stronger,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), in a statement. “With investments in zero-emission trucks, cleaner cargo handling, workforce training, and community engagement, Port Houston is setting the standard for what ports across America can accomplish.”  Learn more about Port Houston’s growth at the Partnership’s State of the Port event on Nov. 22, 2024.