Merrimack Valley prepares to launch New England’s first zero emission passenger ferries

Merrimack Valley officials are planning to launch New England’s first-ever zero emission ferry next year to provide passenger service on the Merrimack River between Haverhill, Amesbury and Newburyport. The small scale project is being eyed by other transit officials as a kind of proof-of-concept that could open the door to wider use of zero-emission boats around the state.

Kyle Murray, who directs state policy at the Acadia Center, an environmental and clean energy advocacy nonprofit based in Boston, welcomed the Merrimack Valley ferry plan, especially if it leads to other lower-emission ferries in the region.

A GBH News investigation, Poisoned Ports, has highlighted rising public health concerns about port communities’ exposure to harmful air pollution from ships burning heavy fuel oil and diesel.

“There are genuinely extremely difficult questions when it comes to certain aspects of decarbonization, particularly with heavy freight,” Murray said. “[But] certain types of things can go all electric with relative ease. Those are ideas we should be really trying to pursue … that can really drive innovation forward.”

To read the full article from GBH, click here.