The Port of Charleston’s rise as a premier maritime trade center has driven significant economic growth in South Carolina. However, as industrial activity increases, local officials are exploring technology upgrades to protect the state’s air quality. Last year, the South Carolina State Ports Authority won a $1.3 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program. This funding equips experts with the resources needed to conduct a research project that will investigate the feasibility of adopting hydrogen-fueled devices along with other methods of mitigating toxic air pollution.
South Carolina’s financial award is classified as a Climate and Air Quality Grant. Federal administrators elected to fund this endeavor during a nationwide competition in which only 55 other proposals were chosen. The project’s pitch was successful due to its innovative strategy that addressed the dangers posed by diesel emissions. These pollutants are released by the engines of ships and logistical equipment. If ingested into the lungs, these toxins can cause serious health complications for the people who live near ports.
Compared to other states, South Carolina’s plan is unique because of its emphasis on hydrogen energy. In last Friday’s article, we discussed how Maine is combatting diesel emissions with shore power technology, which allows docked vessels to operate without using their engines. South Carolina is taking a different approach toward solving this problem. After conducting nearly two decades worth of emissions inventories, the ports authority learned that terrestrial equipment – such as cranes and trucks – spew a significant amount of diesel-based fumes into our atmosphere. This discovery led the state to focus on these sources of pollution. The Port of Charleston has already utilized federal funding for fuel efficiency projects, which has helped reduce their carbon emissions by 48%.
Photo Courtesy South Carolina Ports
The state’s current air purification strategy is even more ambitious. They hope to test the viability of hydrogen fuel technology, which could replace diesel as the primary energy source for the port’s equipment. According to the Department of Energy, if a hydrogen-powered engine receives its electricity from renewable sources, it would only emit water and warm air during combustion, completely removing pollutants from the process. Unfortunately, this technology is expensive and highly flammable. The project’s specific details have not yet been revealed, but the researchers will be sure to prioritize cost optimization and workplace safety when evaluating hydrogen fuel’s practicality.
South Carolina’s hydrogen feasibility studies are a part of the state’s broader efforts to modernize the Port of Charleston. The most significant of these developments occurred when – with the help of federal funding – local officials dredged Charleston Harbor to lower the seafloor to 55 feet below the water’s surface. This herculean accomplishment has allowed Charleston to become the deepest port on the East Coast. The added depth enables ships of all sizes to access the container holding areas regardless of the tidal phases, dramatically increasing the port’s cargo handling capacity. In a press conference that celebrated Charleston’s continued growth, Governor Henry McMaster lauded the benefits garnered through these infrastructure projects: “Through well-planned, targeted investment, South Carolina Ports has positioned itself as a top driver of South Carolina’s economy. Our investments into critical port infrastructure have attracted world-class companies to South Carolina and helped our existing businesses thrive.”
Photo Courtesy South Carolina Ports
These technological and geographical improvements have positioned the Port of Charleston as a monumental economic asset in the region, and it is highly valued by business leaders and regular citizens alike. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Charleston has become one of America’s busiest trade nodes, handling 27.7 million tons of cargo each year. This high volume of commercial activity reflects the port’s role as a critical link between the local manufacturing sectors and global consumer markets. As such, authorities estimate that the Port of Charleston provides $87 billion in economic impact while supporting 260,000 jobs across the state.
For example, Jim Newsome, the former President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, explained Charleston’s critical importance to the state’s automotive industry while speaking to executives from BMW: “For more than 25 years, [the ports authority] has had a strong partnership with BMW Manufacturing. […] The Port of Charleston enables BMW to export 70% of its South Carolina-made vehicles to more than 125 countries. The automotive manufacturing sector is a vital part of our state’s economy. We are proud to support the shipping needs of the automotive industry, and we look forward to future success and growth for BMW.”
Charleston’s expanded cargo handling capabilities will attract more foreign investment in South Carolina for years to come. But, as trade increases, South Carolinians can feel relieved that their leaders are devising new strategies to ensure that public health is not sacrificed for the sake of economic benefit.
