Princess Cruises is celebrating a major environmental milestone after marking 25 years of shore power operations in Juneau, Alaska. The cruise line became the first to connect a ship to the city’s hydroelectric shore power system in 2001, helping establish a model that has since been adopted by cruise ports around the world.
The partnership between Princess Cruises, the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power (AEL&P) has enabled ships to switch off their engines while alongside and use locally generated hydroelectricity instead. The initiative has reduced emissions, improved local air quality and strengthened cooperation between the cruise industry and the local community.
According to Princess Cruises, the Juneau shore power system has now supported 1,725 ship connections over the past 25 years. During that time, ships have used more than 123.6 million kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power, avoiding more than 84,533 metric tons of emissions while generating more than $11.2 million in Community Partnership (COPA) credits that benefit the Juneau community.
The cruise line said the project represented a significant engineering achievement when it was launched in 2001. Connecting large cruise ships to Juneau’s relatively small and isolated hydroelectric grid required close cooperation between the cruise operator, local government and electricity provider.
What began as a local environmental initiative has since influenced the wider cruise industry. Today, 41 cruise ports around the world have shore power installations, reflecting the growing adoption of technology that allows ships to reduce emissions while in port.
Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha said the partnership demonstrated what could be achieved when industry, government and local communities worked together.
“For 25 years, our partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power has demonstrated what’s possible when industry, government and local communities work together toward a common goal,” said Gus Antorcha, President of Princess Cruises.
“Together, we’ve helped pioneer a technology that has transformed cruise operations around the world while delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits in Alaska. Protecting the destinations our guests love to explore has always been part of who we are, and we’re proud to continue building on that legacy. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to investing in innovations that support the future of cruising in the Great Land.”
Beth Weldon, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, said the city remained proud of its role in pioneering shore power.
“We remain proud to be the port that pioneered shore power and of the ongoing public private partnership that made it happen,” said Beth Weldon. “This is a great example of diverse parties coming together to do groundbreaking work and we look forward to future opportunities for collaboration to expand shore power in Juneau.”
Alec Mesdag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Electric Light & Power, said the long-running collaboration had delivered lasting benefits for both the community and the environment.
“For 25 years, Princess Cruises has been an exceptional partner in making shore power a reality in Juneau,” said Alec Mesdag. “Connecting cruise ships to our small, isolated electric grid requires innovation, trust and close collaboration, and Princess has embraced that challenge from the very beginning. Together, we’ve reduced emissions, improved air quality, benefited our community and helped establish Juneau as a global leader in shore power.”
Princess Cruises has sailed to Alaska for nearly 60 years and continues to connect its ships to shore power in Juneau whenever the infrastructure is available. By drawing electricity from the city’s hydroelectric grid instead of running onboard engines, vessels reduce emissions during port calls while supporting local sustainability goals.
The anniversary highlights how shore power has evolved from a pioneering local project into an increasingly common feature of modern cruise infrastructure. As ports continue investing in cleaner technologies, shore power is expected to play an important role in reducing the environmental impact of cruise tourism while allowing destinations such as Juneau to balance economic benefits with environmental stewardship.
