Word out of San Fransisco (the land of no plastic bags and no bottled water) is that Hornblower Yachts is currently lobbying for Coast Guard approval to operate a solar-powered ferry in the area by 2009.

The sails (but not the actual vessel) would come by way of Australia’s own Solar Sailor - a solar sail powerhouse that has already outfitted a Sydney Harbor ferry that features eight solar sails to radically decrease fuel consumption. They are also planning to deliver sails to passenger boat in Shanghai and hoping to outfit four 100-person ferries in Hong Kong.