WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44) introduced the Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation Act in the House of Representatives. The new legislation would provide $1 billion in financing annually from 2025 to 2034 to support the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of clean shipping technologies, including zero-emission vessels, as well as the retrofit or replacement of existing vessels with zero-emission technologies and charging or fueling infrastructure. Ocean Conservancy worked closely with Representative Barragán’s office to craft and refine the scope of the legislation. Caroline Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s U.S. policy manager for shipping emissions, issued the following statement in response: 

“If the global shipping industry were a country, it would be the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Not only is this industry a huge driver of climate change, but it also has major impacts on public health: in the U.S. alone, 39 million people live near ports, where poor air quality from ships and port operations can lead to respiratory diseases and cardiovascular issues. 

“Transitioning this industry to zero-emission technologies has the power to help us meet our global climate goals and improve public health, and that starts right here in the U.S. We must ensure this industry has the resources to retrofit existing vessels and design and build new zero-emission vessels.  

“This bill would provide much needed funding for a key component of the clean shipping transition – supporting the first adopters of new technologies, like ships that run on zero emission fuels  – and ensure that we have the vessels, technologies, and charging or fueling infrastructure to make the transition to clean shipping in the U.S. 

“We are grateful for Representative Barragan’s unwavering support in the pursuit of cleaner shipping in the U.S. and a future with clean air for all and look forward to working with her team to make the provisions in this bill a reality.” 

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