Ferry Impressive: WETA Completes Clean Ferry Conversion Project

The Bay Area Council joined the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, and other transportation and civic leaders from across the region on Tuesday (May 23) to celebrate the conversion of WETA’s four Gemini class diesel vessels from Tier 2 to Tier 4 engines to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent. WETA already operates the cleanest ferry fleet in the country, and the completion of this project will further reduce emissions in vessels serving Oakland, Alameda and Richmond.
 
“Reducing emissions from San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels has always been a top priority for WETA,” said Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman, who also serves as Chair of the WETA Board of Directors. “We were the first to adopt the cleanest diesel technology available, and soon we’ll be the first in the nation to operate high-speed, zero-emission electric ferries. We have a responsibility to give the Bay Area a transportation option that improves air quality and public health in the communities we serve and all of this work is connected to that goal.”
 
The Bay Area Council, which was instrumental in the creation of WETA, has long been a vocal advocate for expanding and decarbonizing ferry operations around the bay, and is excited to see WETA take another step towards a greener future.