Proposed Law Would Spur New York City’s Transition to Electric Ferries
State Senator Brian Kavanagh is proposing legislation that, if enacted, would make most new ferries in local waters electric in less than two years. The Clean Ferries Bill, which was introduced in the State Senate on May 15 and in the Assembly (where it is sponsored by Jo Anne Simon, who represents the Brooklyn waterfront along the East River), mandates that starting in April 2028, ferry companies receiving public funds purchase only zero-emission vessels. This translates into a requirement that new ferries run on electric power, rather than the diesel fuel that now powers most such vessels.
In practice, boats that are already part of the ferry fleets before April 2028 would continue to ply New York waters for many years to come. But requiring all new vessels to be powered by electricity would amount to the start of a turnaround that would eventually transform maritime transportation in New York.
The same bill would also impose a similar restriction on vessels other than ferries—such as tug boats, provided they also receive any kind of public subsidy—in 2042, and require that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) study opportunities for charging stations along the Hudson River and the New York state canal system to accommodate zero-emission tugboats and other workboats. The measure exempts commercial or sports fishing boats, ocean-going ships, or other public vessels transporting goods through the Great Lakes.
If the Clean Ferries Bill is passed by both houses of the State legislature and signed into law by the governor, it would mean that any new vessels purchased by operators such as NYC Ferry, Statue City Cruises, NY Waterway, and SeaStreak would have to begin transitioning to electric propulsion. Because the language of the bill does not contain any exception for government-owned operations, such as the Staten Island Ferry or the Governors Island Ferry, these would also need to begin acquiring electric boats.
Operators such as New York Cruise Lines (proprietors of the Circle Line and NY Water Taxi) that do not receive any public subsidy would be exempt from the requirements of the Clean Ferries Bill.
Environmental activists were quick to applaud the proposed law. Wayne Arden, vice chair of the Sierra Club’s New York City Group, said, “according to one estimate, zero-emission vessels could save NYC Ferry nearly $250 million over a 15-year period, with a payback of eight years. NYC Ferry’s operating subsidies are considerably higher than those of the New York City subway. This bill is a leading example of affordability, where clean technology saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars with the vital additional benefit of eliminating air and water pollution.”
Julie Raskin, president of the Waterfront Alliance, said, “our waterfronts have a central role in achieving New York’s climate goals. From Long Island Sound, the Hudson and East Rivers, and across Lake Champlain, ferries zip across New York’s beloved waterways. Across the nation, and world, zero-emissions ferries carry riders while supporting ambitious climate goals.”
And Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, the climate campaign director at Pacific Environment, said, “diesel ferry exhaust increases the risks of asthma and cancer. Fuel spills harm aquatic life and can devastate New York’s waterways. None of this is inevitable. Zero-emission ferries are already here, already proven and already saving operators millions in reduced fuel use. This bill is about choosing clean air, clean water and clean communities. The only question is how long we’re willing to wait.”
Currently, the only zero-emissions ferry operating in New York waters is the Harbor Charger, which carries passengers between Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. The $33-million vessel is the first hybrid-electric public ferry anywhere in New York State.
The Harbor Charger is equipped with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and 122 lithium-ion batteries, which provide for all the vessel’s power needs for between two and three hours. Since its debut last September, the ferry has operated primarily in battery-assisted hybrid mode with diesel backup, which is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 600 tons annually. The next phase of the plan is to install rapid-charging facilities (currently in the design phase) at the Governors Island dock. This will allow the boat to run almost entirely on electric power (using the diesel motors only as a backup system), and save an additional 800 tons of annual carbon emissions.