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Committee backs five-year MOA to electrify Colman Dock with Washington State Ferries
Summary
A City Council committee voted 4-0 to recommend Council Bill 121228, authorizing a five-year memorandum of agreement with Washington State Ferries to electrify Colman Dock (Pier 52/Colman Dock) and install vessel charging infrastructure; the MOA includes cost-sharing and schedules the slips for service in 2029–2030.
Rob Santoff, interim general manager and CEO of Seattle City Light, presented Council Bill 121228 on June 17 and described the bill as authorizing a five-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Washington State Ferries to support electrification at Colman Dock (Pier 52 area). "This project not only supports transportation but contributes to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions," Santoff said, citing staff projections of about a 70% reduction by 2040 and 95% by 2050.
City Light staff said the initial project would electrify two slips at Colman Dock (roughly 30 megawatts total), require submarine cable that Washington State Ferries would own and operate, and place City Light metering equipment on the dock. Staff described a proposed MOA cost of approximately $3.2 million in which Washington State Ferries would cover about $2.7 million; City Light's cost share for potential betterments during design or construction would not exceed $500,000.
Lizzy Kay, identified as a City Light junior project manager, reviewed the timeline: WSF aims to select a design-builder in March of the following year, with the first electrified slip targeted for service in May 2029 and the second in April 2030. Presenters said WSF will operate the submarine cable and the MOA covers design and construction roles; a separate longer-term operations agreement (anticipated to run ~30 years) would be negotiated later.
Councilmembers asked technical questions about substations, fast-charging coordination with Bremerton and Bainbridge, and how maritime large loads compare to other large users. Staff said the project leverages existing infrastructure from past work (for example, extensions from earlier waterfront projects) and emphasized coordination with WSF to minimize cost and schedule risk.
The committee moved and seconded passage of Council Bill 121228; the clerk recorded four votes in favor and zero opposed. The committee recommended the bill be sent to the full City Council.
