U.S. General Services Administration
General Services Administration Announces $100 Million Investment at Arizona’s San Luis I Land Port of Entry for Green Expansion as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
Federal investment transforms U.S.- Mexico Border into eco-friendly gateway
SAN LUIS, Ariz. ㅡ The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced today $98.9 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding for low-embodied carbon construction materials and emerging and sustainable technologies to incorporate into the San Luis I Land Port of Entry project as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The second busiest non-commercial vehicle port in Arizona, is poised for a transformative expansion and modernization with the recent infusion of federal funding. This investment includes the creation of the first all-electric, net zero energy land port of entry in the United States.
The San Luis project is one of 38 land port of entry projects receiving $1 billion, in total, in Inflation Reduction Act funding.
The $359 million project, slated to be complete in 2028, will incorporate water-saving features, advanced insulation materials, and energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems so this port can operate efficiently in the desert environment. With Inflation Reduction Act funding the project will spur the market for low-embodied carbon materials through the purchase of low-embodied carbon masonry, concrete, glass, and structural steel. The all-electric, net zero energy features include a substantial solar panel installation and a microgrid system with battery storage to power the port 24 hours a day, 7 days a week independent of the electric grid.
“GSA is enthusiastic about applying Inflation Reduction Act funding and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars to drive sustainable technologies and innovative construction materials, particularly focusing on low-embodied carbon materials that will move us toward the President’s goal of net-zero federal buildings by 2045,” said Sukhee Kang, Regional Administrator for GSA’s Pacific Rim Region. “We are not just building infrastructure, but a more efficient, sustainable and resilient gateway for the future of cross-border connectivity and security.”
The San Luis I land port, operational since 1984, currently processes over three million vehicles and 2.5 million pedestrians annually, surpassing its initial design capacity.
“Modernizing and expanding the San Luis Port of Entry has been one of my top priorities since I was sworn into the Senate,” said Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. “With this investment from the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re making long-overdue border security investments, while also making the San Luis Port of Entry the most modern, sustainable, and energy efficient port in the country. This investment will mean shorter wait times, increased travel and trade, and better security—benefiting the city of San Luis, Yuma County, and the entire state.”
“Today’s investment takes a crucial step towards modernizing and strengthening our ports of entry to keep our economy strong and our border secure,” said Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes $3.4 billion for GSA to build, modernize, and maintain more sustainable and cost-efficient high-performance facilities across America. GSA’s Inflation Reduction Act projects will implement new technologies and accelerate this administration’s efforts in achieving a net-zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045. Through these investments, GSA estimates that it could reduce carbon emissions by 2.3 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. The same amount that 500,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles produce each year.
GSA is responsible for constructing and maintaining land ports of entry along the nation’s borders in partnership with and support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection and other federal inspection agencies. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, GSA is modernizing 26 land ports along the Canadian and Mexican borders. These upgrades will strengthen supply chains, create good-paying jobs, enhance safety and security, and provide sustainable solutions to keep these ports operating efficiently and effectively for years to come.
Learn more about the San Luis I Land Port of Entry at gsa.gov/sanluis.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.