b'FOGHORNFOCUS: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESQ&A With Staten Island Ferrys James DeSimone on Greening Up a Public Ferry SystemStaten Island Ferry operates eight ferries and new vessels are in the works, including its first electric ferry.Source: Staten Island Ferry.I n the waning days of Jim DeSimones illustri- speak about, other than we are having three new ferries ous career at Staten Island Ferry, FOGHORNconstructed that will have LED lighting, but also Tier caught up with him to ask about some of the bigIV engines and other features that are more environ-projects started under his watch. Reports about thementally friendly, DeSimone replied. We have also ferry system, which is a participant in the PVA Greenretrofi tted both terminals to LED with savings of about WATERS Programa voluntary best green business$500,000 a year, have installed a photovoltaic system practices for the passenger vessel industryhaveon the roof of our maintenance facility that back feeds focused on sustainable transportation initiatives for oneto the local power company, and have completed the of the nations largest ferry systems.design for an all-electric ferry for our City Island-Hart In response to the innocuous question of whatsIsland service.new at Staten Island Ferry, Jim?, the DeputyNot much? It certainly seems like the Staten Island Commissioner and Ferry Division Chief OperatingFerry, which operates eight ferries and carries 22 million Officer at the New York City Department ofpassengers annually, second only to Washington State Transportation casually responded. Not much toFerries in terms of ridership, has a lot going on. 6JULY 2020FOGHORN'