Ketchikan Council approves pursuit of $23M federal grant for electric grid upgrades

The Ketchikan City Council voted 7-0 Friday to pursue a $23 million federal grant to strengthen the city's electric transmission system and enable shore power for cruise ships.

The project would replace aging infrastructure along the 34-kilovolt transmission corridor from Bailey Substation to Schoenbar Substation. Capacity would rise from 20 megawatts to 35 megawatts. Robert Briggs, KPU Electric Division manager, called the grant a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

The upgrades would enable the city to supply power to cruise ships docked at city berths. The current system cannot support that capability. Briggs said the backbone upgrades are necessary before shore power infrastructure can be extended to the waterfront.

Funding and timeline

The U.S. Department of Energy SPARKS program would cover $17 million of the project. The city would match roughly $6 million.

The council amended the resolution to authorize the application without binding the city to a matching-funds figure. Acting City Manager Matt McLaren said the council would review funding sources if the grant is awarded. Mayor Bob Sivertsen said the state capital budget currently includes a little over $9 million for Ketchikan port electrification, which could serve as part of the match.

The project would unfold over 48 months. The first year would be dedicated to engineering and planning, followed by three years of construction and commissioning.

The grant application is due to the Department of Energy by May 17.