The Vineyard Sustainable Energy Committee recently drafted and approved a letter calling for electrification of ferries being added to the authority's fleet.
The Vineyard Sustainable Energy Committee recently drafted and approved a letter of requests to be made to the Steamship Authority, calling for electrification of ferries being added to the authority’s fleet.
The requests include recognition and accommodation for a future hybrid-electric configuration in the retrofitting of the newly-purchased Aquinnah and Barnstable vessels; creation of an electrification plan and road map as part of the Steamship Authority’s new strategic plan; and purchase of an electric ferry when a vessel is acquired in the future.
The letter states that sustainable energy committee members recognize that the Steamship Authority recently signed a contract to retrofit the newly-purchased vessels and affirms that the seriousness of the climate crisis justifies modifying the contract through a change order or another approach.
The letter was also sent to the Dukes County commissioners and members of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. It was approved at both commission meetings.
In addition, the Vineyard Sustainable Energy Committee collected signatures from more than 350 Islanders on petitions circulating at recent Earth Day and Climate Day events.
Comments
Would be great if this
JohannsWould be great if this included the cHappy ferry
I have no idea who the
Chris EdgartownI have no idea who the Vineyard Sustainable Energy Committee is or what they stand for. A paragraph describing the organization and link to their site would be helpful.
It’s great to ask for all
Knowledge is important Martha’s VineyardIt’s great to ask for all this but looking wider than this initial ask would have been more logical.
Neither overnight port could accommodate the charging necessary to “ purchase of an electric ferry when a vessel is acquired in the future.” unless woods hole is ok with brownouts. The infrastructure needs to be updated first.
This isn’t as easy as just buying an electric ferry and plugging it in.
Electric requires fossil
George Stein OBElectric requires fossil fuels with an expansion of the carbon footprint. A solar farm for this proposal and existing electric based public transportation should be in the conversation if their is an actual interest in the environment.
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