Seward outlines shore‑power project and battery storage to reduce cruise‑ship emissions

Seward City Manager Kat Sorensen presented the Port of Seward Vessel Shore Power Implementation Project to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Dec. 2, describing shore power for cruise ships, large battery energy storage systems and related infrastructure upgrades.

Sorensen said the project will allow cruise ships to plug into shore power while docked at the new cruise terminal in Resurrection Bay, reducing air pollutants and greenhouse gases emitted by vessels at berth. The project includes separate metering and transformer systems and plans for 12‑megawatt battery energy storage systems that would smooth grid impacts when ships are connected and provide winter backup power for the community.

Funding and timeline: Sorensen said about 90% of the project is covered by an EPA Clean Ports grant and about 10% by the Seward Company; the city intends to deliver the project at no cost to borough ratepayers. The new cruise terminal construction is expected to finish in time for the 2026 season, Sorensen said, but sea‑side shore‑power hookups likely will not be fully operational until around 2027; the EPA grant period ends in 2028 and the project must be completed by then.

Procurement and workforce development: Sorensen told the assembly the project is in preliminary design and will use an RFP procurement process to select a BESS technology suited to Seward’s climate. The grant includes funding for a workforce development program with AVTEC (the vocational technical college in Seward) so students can learn to service the equipment.

Assembly questions and answers: Members asked whether cruise lines were supportive and whether ships would be required to use shore power. Sorensen said cruise operators — including Royal Caribbean as the terminal’s anchor tenant — are supportive, and the city anticipates proposing legislation or local requirements that would mandate use once infrastructure is in place. She also said the BESS will be tuned so ship hookups don’t overload the borough grid and will help provide backup when transmission from Anchorage is interrupted.

Local benefits: Sorensen emphasized community benefits beyond emissions reductions, including summer grid smoothing, winter backup power that could reduce generator starts and a potential local workforce pipeline for operating and maintaining electrification equipment.

Next steps: The city will continue design, proceed to RFP and coordinate procurement; Sorensen encouraged assembly members and residents to follow project updates on sewardshorepower.com and attend a Seward City Council presentation on Jan. 12.

Quote: "With that, we'll be able to reduce air toxins and greenhouse gases released by cruise ship vessels docked in Seward while they're in port," Sorensen said.