Ferry electrification paused: Impact on Washington state ferries

This week, Governor Bob Ferguson announced that the state will stop converting jumbo ferries to hybrid-electric power. The state finished one, but it went over budget and was delayed.

Former Governor Inslee’s thoughts

Former Governor Jay Inslee, now back at home on Bainbridge Island, paid close attention to the news. He was not surprised but still had thoughts on the situation. Inslee was the one who pushed for the electrification project in the first place.

He says it’s important to electrify the ferries. These boats play a big role in the state’s pollution problem. “But we also need to keep public support,” Inslee added in an interview.

Governor Ferguson’s decision

Governor Ferguson explained why the project had to pause. The state needs to keep ferries running. They also need to get new soon. Ferguson said that after the Wenatchee ferry is back in service this summer, the system will be restored to how it was before the pandemic.

He added that reducing carbon emissions is important, but right now, the top priority is restoring service. “We need to bring the system back to 2019 levels,” he said.

Future of ferry electrification

Inslee believes the legislature should set a date for restarting the project. He doesn’t want the Wenatchee to be the only electrified ferry. It should be part of a bigger plan to convert more of them.

Ferguson and Inslee agree on one thing. Both support the plan for new hybrid-electric ferries. These ferries will carry 160 cars each. But these new ferries won’t join the fleet until 2028 or 2029.

As for Inslee’s next move, he’s not planning to retire. At 73, he is looking for roles with national nonprofits. He wants to keep working on clean energy projects. Inslee says that’s the biggest challenge of our time.

He is considering different roles. Some could be leadership positions, while others may be more like speaking or being a spokesman. Inslee promises he’ll announce his new roles soon.