You may have already had occasion to see the SS Badger leave or come to port here in Ludington this year.  What is not readily evident on viewing the iconic steamship car ferry as it comes and goes is that this year it is running a lot 'greener' than it has been. 

In the past, the Badger would accumulate coal ash from the burning of coal for it's engines.  They would mix that ash with water to form a slurry, and discharge the mixture a ways offshore, much like coal-fired boats on the lake had done since their early beginnings.  In 2012, amid claims of unfair advantage issued by their Muskegon-Milwaukee competition ferry Lake Express, and broadened interpretations of the Clean Water Act by the EPA, the SS Badger came under fire to change these ways.

 

Aaron Schultz, Marketing Director of Lake Express, noted earlier this month:  "After years of seeking exemptions, special legislative favors and delays, it's good to see the S.S. Badger making steps toward compliance with modern air and water pollution standards."  It should be noted that the Lake Express' very existence was based on special legislative favors and government loans, unlike the Badger's.

The perception of the SS Badger's previous mode of waste removal being somehow dirty and unlawful is real, however, it seems to be a forgivable transgression of the past.  Tom Carr of Interlochen Public Radio notes that the SS Badger:  "was the subject of an environmental controversy because it was polluting the lake."  Before writing a very positive piece on the ship itself and the experience of crossing the lake on it. 

He also informs us that the coal ash currently removed is scheduled to be shipped up to Charlevoix once a week where it is to be reused for use in cement products.  Nothing says redemption in the eyes of many than taking a polluting waste product and recycling it into useful materials.

The MinnPost's Ron Meador leads us to believe that the Badger owners are scofflaws in the beginning of his piece:  "The fun and funky S.S. Badger is operating legally, for a change" and "the Badger owners’ long history of game-playing and disingenuous public relations in resisting pollution standards that were long ago enforced on other coal-burning industrial operations", before forgiving the past misdeeds and reminiscing on how fun a ride it was for him (back when it wasn't blacklisted by the Lake Express and EPA).

He then argues it's the best way to get around the lake, and admit they agree with the Badger's spokesman that:  ""I would like to say that what is lost in all the rhetoric is that we are an awesome experience."  In between, he even gave Ludington a good mention, unlike the other "M" ports for the Badger and Lake Express:  "... Ludington’s is exceptionally pleasant, with restaurants and brew pubs and clean, bargain-rate motels within a short walk of the dock."

This seems to be the general consensus of most Great Lake columnists who have weighed in on the subject.  The retrofitting of a coal ash containment system within the Badger seems to have went smoothly and is working well.  Here is a video produced by the car ferry showing the removal of the old conduit and replacement by the bright blue containment system.

The SS Badger still costs a lot less than the Lake Express, and while it may take a little longer to make the crossing, that only means you can enjoy the experiences, amenities, and views longer.  It also means you can contribute to a company that spent $2 million to develop a revolutionary system in containing and recycling their coal waste into useful products, as it recycles the spare parts on its sister ship, the SS Spartan, when replacement parts are needed.  Go green!

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Good going X. A well written article on the Badger's compliance with the EPA. It's still nothing but sour grapes from the operators of Lake Express who are really the ones who pushed to have this done, hoping it would drive the Badger out of business. The evil axis of car ferrydom, Lake Express, City of Muskegon, City of Milwaukee and that fool senator lak-o-Dick Durbin tried their best to sink the Badger but failed. I wonder what they will try next. I have an idea what that will be but I will not post it and put ideas into their empty heads.  All I can say is up yours evil axis.

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