Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Business Development
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on October 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of Governmental Center East to consider the application of West Coast Clean Fuels, LLC, d/b/a East Coast Clean Fuels, for the granting of a non-exclusive, restricted Port Everglades vessel bunkering services franchise for a one-year term.
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Section 32.22 of the Broward County Administrative Code (“Administrative Code”) and the applicable provisions of Chapter 94-429, Laws of Florida, Broward County (the “County”) must hold a public hearing prior to granting, renewing, placing on probation, suspending, or revoking a franchise.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the setting of a public hearing during which the Broward County Board of County Commissioners may consider adopting the proposed Resolution granting a nonexclusive, restricted Port Everglades vessel bunkering services franchise to West Coast Clean Fuels, LLC, d/b/a East Coast Clean Fuels, for a one-year term.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action 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 economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward’s lower and middle class.”
West Coast Clean Fuels, LLC, d/b/a East Coast Clean Fuels (“East Coast”) was registered in Florida on June 18, 2025, to provide methanol bunkering services at Port Everglades beginning with Celebrity Cruises’ newest cruise ship, Celebrity Xcel, in November 2025. This will be the first cruise ship in the United States, and one of few in the world, designed to use methanol as an alternative fuel.
Founded in Delaware in 2020, East Coast has established operations supplying liquified natural gas (“LNG”) and other low/zero-carbon fuels, including the first U.S. marine LNG bunkering in Long Beach, CA (over 100 million gallons annually), and the first marine hydrogen bunkering in Bellingham, WA (2022), and San Francisco, CA (2023), where operations continue under existing permits. East Coast has applied for a nonexclusive vessel bunkering services franchise.
Staff reviewed the vessel bunkering services franchise application against the enumerated criteria outlined in Chapter 32 of the Administrative Code. Staff's due diligence included, among other things: (a) corresponding with East Coast’s representatives to clarify franchise requirements; (b) reviewing East Coast’s corporate status, resumes of executive staff, list of managerial personnel, business history/experience, litigation history, insurance certificate(s), financial documents and creditworthiness, discharge of previous financial obligations to the County, compliance with all franchise terms and conditions and established rules and regulations of the County, required licenses and certificates, company programs and policies, list of equipment to be used at Port Everglades, and statement of activities and actions indicating that East Coast will maintain a favorable service performance record in Port Everglades during the term of its new franchise agreements; and (c) ensuring that East Coast will promote and develop growth in the business activities, projects, or facilities of Port Everglades. Staff also reviewed East Coast’s safety and environmental history and found no infractions.
During the review of the application, it was noted that East Coast does not currently meet the regulatory requirements for bunkering vessels with petroleum-based fuels. Thus, the proposed franchise resolution is restricted solely to methanol bunkering except to the extent that other fuels are approved in writing in advance by the Port Director, at their sole discretion, after East Coast’s submittal and the Port Director’s review of all documents required by the Administrative Code and all applicable laws, codes, advisory circulars, rules, regulations, and ordinances of any federal, state, county, municipal, or other governmental entity, as amended.
By submitting the signed franchise application, East Coast has agreed to comply with all franchise conditions outlined in Section 32.24 of the Administrative Code.
Based on the review of information provided in the franchise application, staff recommends granting the vessel bunkering services franchise, subject to the restriction. Per Section 32.20 of the Administrative Code, the County may grant vessel bunkering services franchises for up to five years. Past practice has been for staff to recommend granting first-time applicants for a nonexclusive vessel bunkering services franchise a one-year franchise. Consistent with past practice, staff recommends granting the franchise for a one-year term.
Source of Additional Information
Jorge Hernández, Director, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-3501
Maria Mallarino, Franchise & Business Permit Manager, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-0185
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
East Coast has paid the required application fee of $4,200 and an annual fee of $2,360, for a total of $6,560 for the proposed one-year term.