As Whatcom County faces a near-doubling of costs for the Lummi Island electric-battery hybrid ferry project, Skagit County’s Guemes Island Ferry project is on pause with funding in flux.
Like Whatcom, Skagit County opted to go electric when replacing its aging diesel vessel that transports passengers and vehicles. While the county has now secured most of the funding, $10 to $24 million may disappear in the fall if Initiative 2117 to repeal the Climate Commitment Act passes.
Skagit County’s Board of Commissioners has voted to hold any progress on the project, pending the outcome of November’s vote. Last year, plans were to have the vessel operational by March 2026. Now, the timeline is unclear.
In 2022, the county secured $14 million from the state Legislature for the project after lobbying for funding since 2019. At that point, the county declared the project “fully funded.”
But earlier this year, the county rejected all submitted bids to construct the ferry due to being $13 million short following a new cost evaluation. At that point, the county went back to the Legislature, asked for $12 million and received $10 million.
Both state awards are connected to the Climate Commitment Act and the county will not receive the $10 million if the act is repealed, Ferry Operations Division Manager Rachel Rowe said. She said it’s unclear at this point what would happen with the $14 million.
Rowe said federal and local permitting for the project are ongoing efforts.
Like the Lummi Island Ferry project, Skagit County has seen a significant escalation in costs since the project began. The initial estimate was $19.5 million. Now, Rowe said it’s at $45 million, which includes extra costs necessary to install a shoreline battery charging system.
Even if the initiative fails and the funding comes through, the county will still faces a funding gap, Rowe said. It’s unclear how much that gap will be exactly; it will depend on the bids that come through and continued cost escalation, she said.
Once built, the ferry will be one of the first electrified vehicle and passenger ferries in North America.
Rowe said electric propulsion is well suited for shorter routes, like the Guemes Island route. In theory, they expect to have lower ongoing maintenance costs, but Rowe said no electric ferries currently run in North America that provide a direct comparison for the Guemes Island Ferry. The electric ferry will also be quieter than the existing diesel ferry, and won’t have any diesel exhaust, Rowe said.
Skagit County Communications Manager Jenn Rogers said the county is focused on having a boat that works for the community, and is efficient and cost effective.
“What can we do that meets all of the goals of both the commissioners and the community at large, and also is something that we can afford?” she said.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
