Maritime Pollution Fees: Funding Cleaner Shipping, Ports, and Air Quality.
This law introduces new fees on large cargo vessels for greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions to mitigate the negative health impacts of maritime transport, especially near ports. Funds collected will finance fleet modernization, development of clean fuels and port technologies, and air quality monitoring in port communities. Citizens may experience indirect effects through potential changes in the cost of imported goods, but will benefit from improved air quality and investments in green transportation.
Key points
Imposing fees on large cargo vessels (10,000 gross tonnage or more) for lifecycle carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) emissions and criteria air pollutants (NOx, SO2, PM2.5).
The CO2-e fee starts at $150 per metric ton and will increase annually by inflation plus 5 percentage points.
100% of collected fees will fund programs for modernizing the Jones Act fleet, developing low-carbon maritime fuels, electrifying harbor craft and ferries, and increasing air monitoring in port communities.
Vessel operators who fail to pay the fees may be prohibited from operating in U.S. waters and docking at U.S. ports.
Importers may be liable for fees if cargo originates from a voyage that failed to pay, potentially affecting import costs.
Expired
Citizen Poll