PortMiami Cuts Pollution with $125 Million Shore Power Upgrade

PortMiami has invested $125 million in shore power infrastructure, allowing cruise ships like Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to plug into the city’s electrical grid while docked instead of burning fuel. The upgrade, funded in part by federal grants and county dollars, has already enabled ships to plug in for 175 calls, cutting 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions—roughly the annual electricity use of 1,250 homes. Five of the port’s nine cruise berths now support shore power, the most of any U.S. passenger port, with plans to expand as more ships come online.

The project follows a 2021 Miami Herald investigation and significant nudging from the cruise industry, which has embraced the cleaner technology despite higher costs. Cruise executives praised Miami for demonstrating leadership in environmental sustainability, with the move reducing harmful emissions from ships that otherwise run on some of the world’s dirtiest fuels. Similar initiatives are being considered at other Florida ports, including Port Everglades, signaling a broader shift toward greener cruise operations.