The city's Transportation Department estimates that a switch to natural gas from diesel fuel may be able to cut the ferry's fuel bill in half, while also slashing carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter.
The Staten Island Advance reports that at current fuel prices, that would save $3 million per year, per boat.
The federal government put up a little more than $2.3 million to cover the $3 million cost of converting one of the city's Austen Class ferries.
The first ferry will run on a pilot program.
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