Millions in federal dollars funneled into new Governors Island hybrid-electric ferry

Millions of dollars are set to be poured into bringing a hybrid-electric ferry to Governors Island, in the city’s harbor. The new ferry — which is expected to reduce the city’s carbon dioxide emissions by 800 tons each year — is the latest step in ongoing efforts against climate change, officials said.

“This federal grant from the Biden administration will help bring a state-of-the-art, electric ferry to our waters — reducing emissions, supporting green infrastructure, and furthering New York City’s the commitment to lead in the area of climate resiliency,” Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer said in a press release on Friday.

The city’s annual greenhouse gas emissions hit more than 50 million metric tons in 2021, according to data shared by the New York City comptroller’s office. The city has also set an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2050.

The hybrid-electric ferry is one of several initiatives to cut down on the carbon footprint of the nation’s most populated city. Next year, the city’s building owners are expected to begin complying with a new climate law to reduce carbon emissions while Uber and Lyft vehicles that operate in the city are expected to be carbon-free by 2030.

The public hybrid electric ferry — which would be the city’s first — is expected to begin servicing New Yorkers from Lower Manhattan to Governors Island by next summer. When the ferry starts running, powered by batteries and a diesel backup, it’s expected to transport nearly a million travelers who used the ferry.

“Building this infrastructure will significantly reduce emissions, decrease maintenance costs, improve reliability of ferry service for passengers, and provide significant improvements in air quality for residents of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a press release, adding that she wanted to “bring federal dollars home to New York.”

The $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Transportation Authority is part of a larger $10 million award to fund the city’s ferry operations. An additional $3 million is going towards the offsite storage facility for the Staten Island ferry.