A hydrogen-powered ferry built in Washington state is operating in San Francisco Bay.

Clean energy advocates are hoping it spurs action closer to home. The Sea Change is the first ferry in the world to run entirely on zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells. Its exhaust is water, which is safe to drink.

Erika Thi Patterson, senior director of climate programs at Pacific Environment, was on the ship's inaugural trip July 19. She said it shows what is possible for other ferry fleets.

"We've heard from port and municipal leaders in other cities that are running ferry services, like New York and Seattle," Patterson noted. "They're interested in this technology and have said that they're looking for opportunities to deliver more hydrogen-fueled passenger ferries to their cities soon."

The ship was built by All American Marine in Bellingham. King County Metro aims to have a zero-emission transportation fleet by 2035.

Patterson argued decarbonizing maritime fleets is important in order to combat climate change as well as protect people's health.

"Reducing shipping emissions is not only an urgent priority for addressing our climate crisis," Patterson contended. "It's also critical to eliminating harmful pollution in port side communities, which tend to predominantly be working class communities of color."

Patterson added an interesting detail she learned on the Sea Change's maiden voyage is the ferry's only exhaust is water.

"It's so pure that you can actually drink it," Patterson observed. "There's a drinking fountain on board that allows passengers to drink the exhaust, which I did and it was very refreshing."

A New Mexico advocacy group is reminding lawmakers the state must revise its approach to extreme heat, air pollution and the oil and gas industry if families and communities are to survive the changing climate.

Despite major wildfires in recent years, the state has only three air-quality monitors, all placed in major cities.

Charles Goodmacher, founder of Do Good LLC, said at a recent hearing of the Water and Natural Resources Committee, the number could be increased by attaching them to the statewide network of weather stations.

"Then local communities could be much more aware of when they need to issue warnings to people to stay inside or to wear masks and other precautions," Goodmacher explained.

Las Cruces typically records the state's hottest summer temperatures, followed by Albuquerque. Multiple studies have shown hotter temperatures increase anger and aggression, which is thought to increase crime; another major topic facing lawmakers. The advocacy group wants a statewide public health and climate program established and a $10 million fund created to help towns and cities address climate needs.

Data show the Southwest is the fastest-warming area in the lower 48 states and Goodmacher suspects it could be contributing to New Mexico's increased crime in the past five years. He argued climate effects have been traced to negative impacts on the state budget.

"Loss of income to our rural and agricultural parts of the state. Farmers and ranchers are having to change their crops or change which breed of cattle," Goodmacher pointed out. "These kinds of things are happening already in New Mexico."

Efforts to reduce crime have been a major focus in New Mexico this month, with the governor holding a special legislative session. The governor's proposals were not approved, but lawmakers did OK funding to pay for those affected by the recent South Fork and Salt wildfires.

It has been less than four months since Michigan's Gun Lake Tribe received grants totaling $4 million for its plans to fight climate change.

Its electric infrastructure implementation project ramped up this spring.

Phyllis Davis, a tribal council member, said they are looking at ways to could increase efficiency and reduce negative environmental impacts on their area.

"Those dollars were used to replace existing vehicles, for the government campus and our gaming venue, with electric vehicles and charging systems that we will have installed throughout the footprint of our tribal campus," Davis outlined.

This month, the Gun Lake Tribe had a visit from U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who touted their successes so far and announced an additional $120 million in grant funding to help tribal communities around the country prepare for climate-related threats.

The money is part of a larger $560 million investment in tribal climate resilience programs. The focus is on making sure historically underfunded communities, and those seeing more pollution and environmental hazards, have a chance to improve their situations.

Davis pointed out the selection process for the funding was very competitive and shared why she believes the Gun Lake Tribe stood out among the other applicants.

"We do such a good job in grants and management, that every project that we've been awarded by the federal government, we have spent our dollars wisely," Davis explained. "We have fulfilled every objective. We've been highly successful."

Through federal initiatives, tribes can apply for grants for climate-related priorities, from planning and drought mitigation to wildfire prevention and coastal management.

Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker has signed a bill to regulate new carbon capture, storage and pipeline projects.

The technology involves capturing carbon dioxide created by power plants or other industries, transporting it and storing it deep underground.

It can help companies reduce their climate-warming emissions. But unchecked, it also presents some dangers to the public, especially if a pipeline breaks.

Jenny Cassel is a senior attorney with the Clean Energy Program at the environmental group Earthjustice.

"You can't smell it. You can't see it, other than the immediate source of where that rupture might happen," said Cassel. "So, it's sort of a devastating set of circumstances for folks that may be in the path of this. And they have no idea what is happening or where to go."

Cassel said she's pleased with protections in the law, which include long-term monitoring requirements and funds for emergency management.

It also stops all new pipelines from being built until July of 2026, while regulators finalize stronger safety rules.

The governor's office says this law will create up to 3,700 new jobs in Illinois. Pipeline operators say its among the safest ways to sequester carbon.

Multiple carbon capture projects have been proposed in recent years in Illinois, which has a geology uniquely suited for Co2 storage.

Cassel said the new law isn't perfect, but is a solid compromise that can be improved in the future.

"I truly do hope that many more states do what Illinois does, and potentially even go beyond that, right, in terms of protection against this," said Cassel. "We do not want to protect our climate at the expense of our lives and our environment."

New carbon capture projects will also be required to create a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Pritzker has set a goal for Illinois to run on 100% clean energy by 2050.




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