With access to two major shipping routes, Ohio plays a large role in maritime shipping. A 2018 report found that shipping along the Ohio River was linked to over 37,000 direct, induced, and indirect jobs and $26.5 billion in economic activity for the state. According to a release from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January 2024, two of the busiest 25 ports in the United States by dry bulk are in Ohio: the Port of Cleveland and the Port of Toledo. Although these ports provide significant economic benefits, they are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. This brief will explore electrification initiatives to reduce emissions at ports, with a focus on the Port of Cleveland, and identify the challenges ahead in ensuring ports can power the economy without a cost to communities and the environment.
