Bay Area air district helps guarantee $5M in loans for emission-free ferry

Perhaps this research will lead to emission free ferries on the San Francisco Bay, another plus for green travel.  San Francisco Ferries now connect to bike trails in Sausalito, Larkspur and Harbor Bay in Alameda.  Ferries also connect to rail transit in San Francisco and Larkspur….R.Coates

FAIRFIELD — A San Francisco company is building the first zero-emission e-ferry, which will serve as the flagship to its new fleet.

And Switch Maritime has received a little financial support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which awarded the firm its first loan guarantee.

The 84-passenger e-ferry is under construction at the All American Marine shipyard in Bellingham, Washington, using private funding from Switch and a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board.

The project leverages technology from partners that include Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, BAE Systems, and Hydrogenics.

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