Americas News
NYC Agencies Resist Biofuel Bunker Legislation
New York City agencies are resisting calls by some of the city's councillors to mandate the use of biofuels on the city's Staten Island ferries, amongst others, local media reports.
The proposed legislation would require city vessels, including the Staten Island ferries and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) vessels to use five percent biofuel, increasing over time.
One councillor, Costa Constantinides, said use of biofuels was becoming more common for heating oil and cars in the city.
"When we look at the ferry and our marine vehicles and we're nowhere near there," he said.
But a spokesman for ferry operator, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), said its vessels already run on low sulfur diesel and that new, more environmentally friendly ferries are currently being designed in Seattle, U.S.
"The city's new ferries will be among the first vessels in the world to comply [with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier IV requirements]," said the spokesman.
DEP's John Petito added that there were questions over operational efficiency in cold water, engine modifications and fuel availability.
"DEP is concerned about the significant impacts this legislation will have on the Agency and our vessels," he said.
He also claimed that DEP had invested $106 million in three new sludge vessels which would become obsolete if the legislation is passed.
Last week the biofuels industry was said to be struggling to compete now that oil prices have dropped to their lowest in recent years.
