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Steamboat 'S.S. Badger' could become carbon-neutral

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The country's last coal-powered passenger steamship could soon ditch the coal for a carbon-neutral fuel source to travel across Lake Michigan.

In 1953, the S.S. Badger began transporting passengers and vehicles across the lake between Michigan and Wisconsin.

Now, the ship’s operators say they are in the early stages of moving towards alternative fuel sources to power the ship.

Sarah Spore is the general manager for the S.S Badger. She says they are considering using diesel or electric power. We don't have a set plan yet. We're just looking at we're exploring all of our options," she says.

By 2050, the entire maritime industry expects to be completely carbon-neutral.

The Badger was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

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As WKAR's Bilingual Latinx Stories Reporter, Michelle reports in both English and Spanish on stories affecting Michigan's Latinx community. Michelle is also the voice of WKAR's weekend news programs.