QUESTION
Council Member Aviles Asks EDC About Compelling Cruise Companies to Invest in Sustainable Infrastructure
1:43:35
·
3 min
Council Member Alexa Aviles questions the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on whether cruise companies have been compelled to invest in critical, sustainable infrastructure, such as battery storage, as part of their cruise terminal agreements. The discussion reveals EDC's reliance on the economic benefits of the cruise industry to fund city infrastructure upgrades without directly compelling companies to make these investments. The response highlights the strategic push for vessels to be shore power capable and the city's high dockage rates as a means to secure investment for sustainability.
Speaker 2
1:43:35
In terms of in in terms of there was a follow-up letter between from president Kimball and September when which predated the announcement of the cruise terminal agreement.
1:43:53
In this letter, EDC states that the only instance in which ships do not plug in is when there is a need for load shedding as we've talked about during hot summer days.
1:44:05
Has EDC compelled the corporations that have entered into these cruise terminal agreements who are clearly benefiting substantially to make any and critical infrastructure such as battery storage, which has now been further enabled, actually, by the city of yes, carbon neutrality technology.
Speaker 7
1:44:30
Thank you for that question and it's a good one.
1:44:35
As stated in in that letter, and I I think I can speak for president Kimball that we are and and as it is in one of our 4 strategies as a economic development corporation, we're committed to building a sustainable infrastructure for this economy.
1:44:49
The the economic impact that the cruise that the cruise industry provides to the city is the mechanism in which we are able to make those types of improvements and commitments to the grid.
1:45:06
As you mentioned, the community, city agencies, the council, are are the ones that should have oversight, and and we are not looking for an overreach of any cruise lines into our terminals.
1:45:23
They need to be good neighbors.
1:45:26
They need to be strong partners.
1:45:28
And and they are which, again, the long term agreements, what that allows us to do is secure that investment for the city of New York so that we can look at the infrastructure needs and upgrades that are required to continue to build a more sustainable infrastructure sure to be able to to move forward.
Speaker 2
1:45:49
Okay.
1:45:50
So so the answer is no.
1:45:51
We don't ask corporations to invest in infrastructure.
1:45:56
That would be good for our communities when reaping enormous benefit.
1:45:59
Each
Speaker 6
1:46:00
in order to plug in to shore power the ship's do get modified by the cruise lines.
1:46:06
So and each each vessel makes a substantial investment so that they can set the cables coming off from our peer.
1:46:16
So I think our focus has always been on making sure that the cruise lines when they come here are making those modifications.
1:46:24
In the case of Brooklyn 70%, you know, the the princess vessels and the queen married too have made those investments.
1:46:31
And I think we would continue to press for all of the vessels to be sure power capable.
Speaker 7
1:46:39
One of the other things that I I think we can say, we have the highest docket and orphanage rates.
1:46:45
In the country.
1:46:47
And so it is much more affordable for ships to dock elsewhere, and we are I think 7 out of the top 10 terminals.
1:46:56
We are not Miami and we are not Seattle, yet we are able to exact much more from the dockage and orphanage fees that we charge every ship.
Speaker 2
1:47:14
I have so many things running through my mind.
1:47:16
We can talk about this all day long.