Electrifying our Future

Item No. 11b supp
Meeting Date: April 22, 2025

Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategy

Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
April 22, 2025
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ZERO EMISSION PORT BY 2050
Premier global
gateway driving
sustainable
commerce and
travel

North American
hub for zero
emission
maritime and
aviation
transportation

Future-ready for
sustainable,
resilient
operations and
infrastructure

Health and
prosperity for
near-port
communities

2

Our Roadmap for Power:
The Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategy
A roadmap for power infrastructure to support electrification of buildings,
vehicles, vessels and equipment on Port-owned properties in the Seattle Harbor
Partnership of Port of Seattle, Seattle City Light and NW Seaport Alliance
Facilitate Port and Maritime Industry clean energy transition; focus on electrification
Optimize City power grid resources
Recommended strategies, business models & policies to support implementation
Identify industry and port tenant interests and investment priorities. Develop
industry partnerships and identify leading innovation projects
 Reduce impacts to near-Port communities

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

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3

Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy
Partnering Agreement
• 10-year agreement, signed in 2021
• Port of Seattle, NWSA and Seattle
City Light
• Holistic planning approach
• Innovative solutions for deployment
• Framework for ongoing coordination
and implementation

4

Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategy
Vision and Alignment with Existing Plans
A lasting partnership deploying clean energy infrastructure and
driving equitable economic development for a zero-emissions
working waterfront by 2050
Projects & Programs
to Support Zero
Emissions Transition

Seattle Waterfront
Clean Energy
Strategy
Port of Seattle & NWSA
Implementation Plans:
Port specific action plans

Northwest Ports Clean
Air Strategy: Vision and
shared objectives for NW
Ports

Implementation & Investment
Plans

Foundational Policy Frameworks

SCL Transportation
Electrification Strategic
Investment Plan:
Priority program offerings in
transportation electrification
SCL Strategic Plan:
Seattle City Light's
Strategic Priorities
5

Power Distribution System

6

Core Elements of Waterfront Clean Energy Strategy Development

Situational
Assessment,
Vision & Goals

Baseline
Inventory &
Site
Prioritization

Demand
Forecast

Constraints
Analysis

Solutions
Development

Implementation
Framework &
Strategy

Complete

7

Site Analysis

8

Forecasted Load Growth
Power Demand by End-use, 2025-2050 (MW)

9

Key Findings and Insights
• Port power needs (peak electrical demand) expected to increase 4x by 2050
• Shore power is a key driver of near-term power demand
• Port-adjacent sites are significant contributors to SCL's load growth
• Both SCL and Port electrical infrastructure will face future constraints
• Traditional infrastructure solutions are currently most cost-effective
• Gaps: long-term planning, asset condition, and resiliency

10

Recommendations
1. Power Infrastructure Investments
2. Strategic Implementation Actions
3. Joint Strategy Implementation Framework

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Recommendations | Power
Infrastructure Investments
•

Plan for future capital: up to $457 million in port
and utility investments through 2050
• On-terminal: $139 to $288m
• Distribution System: $69 to $168m

•

Site planning, infrastructure
assessments, financial planning to inform
decision making and investment priorities.
Consider in context of other POS priorities

•

Review near-term projects for inclusion in Port,
NWSA and SCL CIPs

•

Coordinate timing of capital investments with
NWSA and SCL

12

Recommendations | Strategic Implementation Actions
• Design for Future Electrification Capacity
• Asset Condition Assessment
• Identification of Critical Facilities for Resiliency
• Integrate Power Needs with Site Master Planning
• Infrastructure Management and Development
• Increase Grant Project Readiness
• Clean Technology Development
• Innovative Business Models & Financial Strategies

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Recommendations | Joint Implementation Framework

Seattle Waterfront Clean
Energy Strategy

Joint
Implementation
Framework

Two Workstreams

Site & Distribution
Infrastructure
Deployment

Capital Improvement
Plans (CIPs), long-lead
planning, system capacity
monitoring

Project-level planning,
permitting, design &
construction

End Use
Electrification
Deployment

Industry engagement,
technology assessment,
project partnership
development

End use projects,
clean tech pilot projects,
supportive policy, grant
funding

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Next Steps
Consider near-term projects for CIP (Port, NWSA, SCL);
coordination on long-lead projects
Initiate site power master planning
Evaluate incentives & business models for clean energy
technologies
Coordinate investments and grant planning with partners
and industry
Public engagement on SWCES and related projects

15

Thank You

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