Maine will receive a $7.1 million federal grant to modernize the Lincolnville and Islesboro ferry terminals to accommodate a new hybrid-electric ferry that will reduce pollution and improve transportation on Penobscot Bay, according to Maine’s congressional delegation.
The terminals serve the ferry that runs between Lincolnville and Islesboro, one of six island communities served by the Maine State Ferry Service. It’s the service’s busiest route, carrying about 600 year-round residents, 180,000 walk-on passengers and more than 80,000 vehicles annually.
Built in 1959, the terminals must be upgraded before the plug-in hybrid ferry is delivered in 2027, the delegation said. The vessel will operate primarily on battery power, supported by a diesel backup system.
The grant will fund the installation of battery charging infrastructure and expanded docking space, among other improvements. It’s part of more than $33 million awarded to Maine from a new program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that aims to help ferry systems transition to climate-friendly technologies.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.