Requires all ferries purchased by or for the state or any agency or public authority thereof, in any fiscal year which commences on or after April 1, 2028, produce zero emissions; directs NYSERDA to conduct a feasibility study related to transitioning certain workboats to be zero-emission; defines terms.
This bill would require that, beginning with fiscal years starting on or after April 1, 2028, all ferries purchased by or for New York State, its agencies, or public authorities produce zero emissions. It also extends that requirement to privately licensed ferries that receive state or public-authority funding to subsidize a specific route, requiring those vessels to be zero- or near-zero-emission for that route. The bill defines zero-emission, near-zero-emission, fossil fuel, and range extender for purposes of the new requirements.
The bill further directs the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to conduct a feasibility study on transitioning tugboats and other workboats to zero-emission operation. That study must examine the need for charging infrastructure along the Hudson River and the New York State canal system, current and projected marine service demand, infrastructure funding options, safety issues, and possible negative impacts from installing charging stations. NYSERDA must report its findings and recommendations within two years of the effective date.
The bill would amend the Energy Law, Environmental Conservation Law, and Public Authorities Law to create new emissions standards for publicly funded ferry purchases and to authorize a statewide study of zero-emission workboat infrastructure. It would establish a phased policy timeline, with ferry procurement requirements beginning in 2028 and a broader zero-emission operating standard for covered ferries by 2042, while allowing fossil-fuel-based range extenders as auxiliary power units. It would also exclude commercial and sports fishing boats, ocean-going ships, and vessels transporting goods through the Great Lakes from the new requirements and study provisions.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to reflect a policy direction favoring maritime decarbonization and infrastructure planning rather than a contested or amended compromise. The bill’s structure suggests support for a gradual transition, using delayed compliance dates, study requirements, and limited exceptions to address operational realities. No formal vote history or transcript is available to indicate opposition or support levels.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the cost and feasibility of converting ferry and workboat fleets, the need for charging infrastructure, and the operational reliability of zero-emission vessels on routes with demanding duty cycles. The bill anticipates these concerns by allowing near-zero-emission ferries for subsidized routes, permitting range extenders, and requiring a feasibility study that specifically examines safety and negative impacts of charging station installation. Stakeholders most likely to focus on these issues include ferry operators, public authorities, marine service providers, port interests, and environmental advocates.