Port Canaveral may get natural gas plant for cruise ships and rockets

Liquid natural gas for cruise ships and rockets alike could begin processing at Port Canaveral if a deal between two energy companies and the Port goes through to purchase land for a potential facility.

The facility could create between 50-100 jobs. A projected timeline for the project shows a completion goal of 2029. Representatives from Chesapeake Energy, parent company of Florida City Gas, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy presented the plan to the Port Authority Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10 in hopes of building a new liquid natural gas liquefaction facility in Brevard County. The fuel would be used for both cruise ships and the space industry. Port Authority commission chair Jerry Allender said the action should be considered for the economic benefit to the community.

“We have a duty to make sure this is the highest and best use of the land,” Allender said.

Port Canaveral staff will now design a purchasing agreement to bring back to the board for public discussion in January.

Liquid natural gas required for rockets and cruise ships

Michael Cassel, a vice president of strategic development with Chesapeake Energy, said Florida is “very short” on natural gas infrastructure. He said the plant would “ensure that Florida’s energy future remains both reliable and resilient.”

The Port already has multiple ships in its docks powered by LNG. Going forward, that trend is expected to continue. In 2026, half the ships in production will be fueled by liquid natural gas. “It will attract the newest generation of those cruise ships,” Cassel said.

Florida Department of Transportation official Dan Fitzpatrick said both Port Canaveral’s cruise operations and Kennedy Space Center’s space missions will require natural gas energy infrastructure going forward.

“Development will be subject to rigorous state and federal permitting after land acquisition has occurred,” Fitzpatrick said.

Liquid natural gas safety concerns in Brevard

Roger Williams, vice president of liquid natural gas for Berkshire Hathaway Energy, told Port commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting that liquid natural gas transportation and distribution was already ongoing in Brevard County.

“It’s important to remind the local community that natural gas infrastructure exists in our communities today and in many of our homes,” Williams said. “Florida City Gas has done an outstanding job making sure those are operated safely.” “LNG trucks are already here fueling launches at the Cape, and that’s going to continue as long as the number of launches ramps up.” Situating a production facility close to the launch sites will minimize the number of trucks and the distance traveled over local roadways, Williams said.

Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez.