Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Director’s Office
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ACCEPT Grant Agreement between Broward County and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for the Fiscal Year 2023 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (“DERA”) Grant Award No. DE-03D15624-0, in the amount of up to $2,500,000, requiring a County match of up to $16,233,333; to authorize the County Administrator to execute any amendments to the Grant Agreement, provided there is no increase in the County’s financial obligations and subject to review of all such documents for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and to authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions related to the grant.
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 20.31(b)(3), Broward County Administrative Code, requires that the Board of County Commissioners approve all state and federal grant agreements.
What Action Accomplishes
This grant will provide additional funds to implement a shore power pilot project at a single cruise terminal to determine and verify the best shore power arrangement for cruise vessels at all eight Port Everglades cruise berths.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This item supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) Value of “Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the Goal of “Ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection”.
Most marine vessels use auxiliary diesel engines while at berth to power hoteling services such as lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration, and accommodations. Port Everglades has eight cruise terminals located throughout the Port. The construction of shore power infrastructure will significantly reduce NOx, SO2, PM2.5, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with cruise ship by enabling vessels to turn off their engines and plug into the local electricity grid to power auxiliary systems while at berth. The improved air quality will reduce harmful health impacts and adverse environmental effects to surrounding communities.
Port Everglades applied for and was selected to receive $2,500,000 in grant funds under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program (“DERA”). The grant requires the County to provide $16,233,333 in matching funds for a Pilot Project to provide shore power to Berth 25.
Implementing this Pilot Project will allow Port Everglades to determine and verify the best shore power arrangement for cruise vessels at all eight Port Everglades cruise berths. The Port completed a Shore Power and Electrification Master Plan in 2023 that addresses Port Everglades’ portion of the shore power infrastructure system. The report identifies cruise vessel power requirements and connection points, shore power equipment typologies, and potential emissions reductions.
The Pilot Project will improve the air quality in and adjacent to Port Everglades, encompassing parts of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach. The availability of shore power will allow Port Everglades to attract shore power-enabled vessels, which is the future of marine transportation.
The County’s standard terms are not included because the grant agreement requires acceptance of the EPA’s terms and conditions, including an annual Federal Financial Report and an annual Performance Report requirement for the County. The grant agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney and does not require execution by the County for acceptance.
In addition to this DERA grant, the County will be receiving $850,000 in Federal FY24 Community Project Funding through the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program for design of the underground duct bank that would run between a new Florida Power and Light (“FPL”) substation to be constructed on FPL property at its Port Everglades Next Generation Clean Energy Center on the port and the cruise berth areas; staff is still finalizing that grant agreement, which will be brought to the Board for approval at a future meeting.
The County also submitted a separate grant application through the EPA’s Clean Ports program for $127,913,605 to fully equip all eight cruise berths with shore power capability, but EPA released the list of grant recipients on October 29, 2024, and the project was not selected for funding. Staff will continue to pursue other federal and state grant funding opportunities and other funding options to offset the cost to build out the entire system.
Source of Additional Information
J. David Anderton II, PPM, AICP, Assistant Director of Port Everglades, 954-468-0144, danderton@broward.org
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The grant provides $2,500,000 for the Pilot Project, which requires the County match the award with $16,233,333. Both the grant and matching Port funds are included in the Port’s approved FY25 Capital budget. The DERA grant award of $2.5 million represents 13.35% percent of the total estimated pilot project cost of $18,733,333.