Marblehead’s Green Marblehead Implementation Committee met last week to discuss a wide range of sustainability and planning initiatives, from expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure at schools to advancing the town’s Green Communities designation and tackling the delicate balance between historic preservation and energy efficiency in Old Town.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Community Development Director replace the Town Planner on the Green Community Committee, a move intended to better align policy coordination and sustainability work across departments
Much of the discussion centered on the town’s electric vehicle charging expansion, particularly plans to install three new chargers at the Brown School and additional ones at the Gerry School playground. According to committee member Michael Hull, the installations will be funded through the state’s EVIP program, which supports municipal EV infrastructure.
Two of the Brown School chargers will serve the municipal fleet and staff, while a third will be open to the public. The Gerry School site will focus on public use. The EVIP grants could fund up to $50,000 per site, but operational and maintenance costs — including software, maintenance, and network fees — will remain a local responsibility.
Committee members discussed whether to adjust the town’s charging rates, which are currently among the lowest in the region — 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 50-60 cents elsewhere.
“Right now, we’re at about 40% utilization,” Hull said. “We’d rather increase use than raise prices.”
The committee also reviewed progress toward Marblehead’s long-term goal of becoming a Green Community, a state designation that unlocks significant grant funding for municipal energy improvements.
Logan Casey, sustainability coordinator, said the town recently adopted a Zero Emission Vehicle First Policy, approved by the Select Board in September. The final piece — a comprehensive Energy Reduction Plan — is expected within weeks. Once complete, the plan will be presented to the Select Board for adoption.
Casey noted that coordination with the school department remains important: “The schools have different procurement powers, so we’re working with the superintendent to ensure alignment on the policy.”
If all pieces fall into place, Marblehead could apply for Green Communities certification by year’s end, or by the next state application window in June 2026
As part of its sustainability efforts, Marblehead is participating in the Mass Fleet Advisor Program, which helps municipalities plan EV transitions for their vehicle fleets. The town submitted an inventory of about 130 light- and medium-duty vehicles, excluding heavy construction equipment, Casey said.
State advisors will soon visit Marblehead’s major public works sites to assess space for future charging hubs.
“They’ll help us map where municipal fleet chargers could go,” Casey explained. “This will guide our next big phase in fleet electrification.”
Data from the town’s fuel-tracking system and new GPS vehicle trackers will help determine average mileage and usage patterns, critical for deciding which vehicles are best suited for electrification.
