Port Everglades explores shore power with FPL agreement

The agreement gives FPL the go-ahead to begin design services required to construct a new electrical sub-station and power distribution facilities at Port Everglades.

Timing is right

'When we first explored shore power back in 2009, few of the cruise ships that came to Port Everglades were equipped to connect at that time, so it was premature to make a multimillion-dollar investment,' Port Everglades Chief Executive/Director Jonathan Daniels said. 'Now is the time as today's cruise ships being built for energy efficiency and the lines are retrofitting their older fleet with shore power technology.'

Cost-sharing

Daniels added the port will seek state and federal cost-sharing opportunities such as grants, with the balance of the project shared between the port and the cruise lines.

The approximately three-month preliminary design phase includes assessing the capability and capacity of the electrical grid to determine the electrical infrastructure upgrades required to effectively deliver shore power to each of the eight cruise berths.