Marion’s Energy Management Committee is pleased to announce that on June 7 the Board of Selectman approved an increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) to be requested through grant applications. The Board initially approved three EVs for municipal use; that number is now four. Funding for one EV was already received, and a Nissan Leaf was delivered in March 2016 for use by the Recreation Department. The first grant also covered costs for two high-speed charging stations, which are installed at the Town House and at the Atlantic Drive facility. Both are available for public use. Two of the three additional EVs, if grants are approved, will replace low-MPG, ex-police cruisers now used by the Board of Health and the Department of Public Works. The third will be used by the Council on Aging, reducing mileage on their large vans when only a few people require transportation. At least two additional charging stations would also be purchased using grant funds, which we hope will encourage more residents in our region to choose EVs. By replacing gas-guzzling vehicles with clean EVs, Marion is saving tax dollars, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (about 4 tons of carbon/car/year), and raising awareness of human-caused climate change. The Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) is funded through fees on vehicle inspections that began in 2012 to support pollution-reduction initiatives. Additional information is available from EMC member Jennifer Francis at francis@imcs.rutgers.edu.