PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing an additional $750,000 to research how a new hybrid propulsion system performs on a soon-to-be-constructed ferry operated by Casco Bay Lines.
It's the final piece of funding needed to move forward with the diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, said Hank Berg, general manager of the Casco Bay Island Transit District.
Casco Bay Lines estimates that the propulsion system will eliminate up to 800 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, while also reducing exhaust fumes and engine noise and vibrations.
Earlier this week, the ferry line was awarded $3.2 million for the purchase of the propulsion system. The additional funding will analyze how the system performs in the real world, officials said Friday.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, the chair of the transportation appropriations subcommittee, praised the ferry service company for pioneering an “environmentally friendly, cutting-edge engine technology.”
