I am writing to request that your ministry power the proposed new ferry, we are to be receiving in 2022, as one that is 100% electric. Corvus Energy manufactures modular lithium-ion batteries right here in Richmond, BC, and the fact that they already have some 100% electric ferries in use in Norway, using these BC-Canadian-made batteries, makes very good sense to proceed with this technology for our new ferry boat.
I am writing this letter as a director of our Nelson-Creston Green Party Riding Association and as a representative of the large number of Nelson-Creston residents who wish to see our province moving towards a sustainable future. We feel this is an excellent opportunity to showcase forward-thinking 21st century technology by NOT reinvesting in diesel power at all but moving toward 100% electrical power.
We look at the Norwegian MF Ampere Ferry as an example, as the world’s first All-Electric Car Ferry. Here is the link to this information on the Corvus website: https://corvusenergy.com/marine-project/mf-ampere-ferry/ . This 80-metre vessel carries 120 cars and 360 passengers which is larger capacity than our proposed ferry, but as an example, that ferry alone saves 1 million litres of diesel per year, 2680 metric tons of CO2 are mitigated and 37 metric tons of NOx are mitigated, as an illustration of the environmental benefits.
In light of the urgent climate crisis that we have now entered, according to the renowned UN IPCC report of October 2018, it is imperative that we reduce fossil fuel use as much and as soon as possible. We could be a shining example, a prototype of BC’s first all-electric ferry, by using this Corvus Energy Storage System (ESS) to power our new vessel. And we have the technology available to us right here in our own province, with this multi-award winning energy company in Richmond. We feel the time is now for this innovative action, and that perpetuating any diesel use, a backward step for the environment and society.
We look forward to your response to this proposal.
Sincerely,
Mary Donald | Riondel, BC
editor@crestonvalleyadvance.ca
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