WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell announced Tuesday that the Washington state ferry system will receive $1.5 million in federal funding to help convert one of the ferries on the Seattle-Bainbridge Island route from diesel to hybrid-electric drive.
Washington State Ferries started the design process of converting its three Jumbo Mark II class ferries, the Puyallup, Tacoma and Wenatchee, in October, after receiving $35 million as part of the federal Volkswagen settlement. Planning and design will continue through 2020 and construction will begin in 2021. The latest funding comes from the Marine Highway Program.
The ferries carry 202 cars and 1800 passengers each and primarily operate on the Seattle/Bainbridge and Edmonds/Kingston routes.
A news release says converting one ferry to hybrid-electric drive will result in a 95% reduction in emissions for the vessel. That’s like taking more than 10,000 cars off the road.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Joe Mabel)