Solar Powered Hybrid Ferry Technology May Be Coming To New York City Waterfront Starting With Roosevelt Island - Vision 2020 Waterfront Planning Meeting October 12

Image Of Hong Kong Solar Hybrid Ferry From Itech Diary

 I have reported before about how Roosevelt Island is at the forefront of experimenting with new technology for improving urban living:

Roosevelt Island receives much grief from many of our fellow New York City residents for being strange, insular, creepy, spooky, stuck in the past etc - and some of that is true. But there is another side to Roosevelt Island which is at the forefront of urban planning and the use of new and exciting technology for the betterment of those who live, work and visit here....

Here's another exciting example.  Last Tuesday, I assisted Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Director Jonathan Kalkin in organizing a meeting to discuss how to bring Solar Powered Hybrid Ferries to the New York City Waterfront including Roosevelt Island. Mr. Kalkin provides the details.

On Tuesday at the Interferry Conference in Brooklyn New York, I had the great honor of introducing Solar Hybrid Ferries to Roosevelt Island and New York City. Present for the meeting was representation from the EPA, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's office, Borough President Scott Stringer's office, Assembly member Micah Kellner, City Council member Jessica Lappin, Tom Fox Of NY Water Taxi and members of the Durst Organization, and RIOC President and VP Leslie Torres and Fernando Martinez. Dr. Robert Dane, CEO of Solar Sailor gave a presentation of his patented Solar Sail technology that could be added to present ferries or put into new ones.

I was invited to the Department of Energy to an EPA conference about a month ago to discuss some of the Green Initiatives on Roosevelt Island. During my discussions there with a number of DOE, NYSERDA, and EPA representatives, I asked if there was ferry funding at the DOE or anywhere else. They said I could get funding for a green ferry, but even they said they weren't aware of any in the United States.

I did some research and contacted Dr. Dane of Solar Sailor of Australia. His ferry technology is used in Australia, and now Shanghai and Hong Kong. A Hybrid Solar Ferry resolves most of the ferry issues that plague New York City. First and foremost, most ferry systems are simply not profitable for the operator. Fuel costs are very high and therefore the price per ride has to be as well. If the price per ride is too high it is not competitive with other forms of transportation, even if its more convenient. Even with a high price ticket without a subsidy most ferries can't work.

Almost all forms of public transportation are subsidized. However ferries are not and it has been difficult to find a ferry that is profitable without a large subsidy. Also there is always a concern of the ferries keeping their engines idle in docks and adding pollution to the water and air around it. A Hybrid/Solar ferry runs up to 8 knots with zero emissions and can travel with hundreds of passengers. Like a Toyota Prius it can run faster if needed on diesel, but the overall fuel savings is 30, 40 and sometimes 50 percent. If the ferry goes on short distances like across our East River, it can run on zero fuel and when sitting in the dock will have zero emissions. Also it is very quiet.

After researching a number of green projects the main barrier is always the upfront capital cost. The operating cost once built is much cheaper, but it takes time to get the return on investment. That is why I contacted the EPA who have funding to pay for this. NYSERDA also has a program for development projects.

We are looking at a number or options for docks. Currently there is a dock near the Roosevelt Island Tram that would be a great addition to our transportation options and critical for island emergencies. I thought it would be a good idea to get everyone together to discuss this initiative and we had a great meeting thanks to the help of our great representatives and RIOC team. We set up a working group to research the project and to develop a proposal for the EPA and NYSERDA this year. It is really great to see Roosevelt Island not only lead the city, but now the USA in green projects.

Here's more on Solar Powered Hybrid Ferries being used in Hong Kong Harbor

You Tube Video of Solar Power Hybrid Ferry

and an experimental hybrid solar ferry for St. Lucia in the Caribbean

For more on plans regarding the New York City Waterfront, here's a message from the Department of City Planning:

Help Plan the City’s Waterfront

The Department of City Planning is continuing its extensive public engagement process to develop Vision 2020: The New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan with a public meeting on Tuesday, October 12th, 2010. Vision 2020 will establish the city’s long range vision for a 21st Century waterfront, identifying opportunities for improvement and the strategies needed to realize this new vision. The meeting will present Vision 2020’s goals and draft recommendations and provide an opportunity for public comment. We urge you to be part of the process by reading the draft recommendations online at nyc.gov/waterfront, where you can also submit comments online, and attending the October 12th meeting:

Tuesday, October 12th, 6 p.m.

Rosenthal Pavilion, NYU Kimmel Center for University Life

60 Washington Square South, 10th Floor, New York, NY

NYC's Draft Waterfront Plan has this to say about Roosevelt Island (Page 18):

• Support continued evaluation of effectiveness of tidal energy and strengths of river currents
• Provide in-water recreation access, such as a boat launch
• Support an improved Southpoint Park with a waterfront esplanade