To the Editor:
Marion’s Energy Management Committee (EMC) is pleased to announce that the Selectmen have approved our proposal to lease three electric cars for use by Marion’s employees. Following in the successful path taken by Dartmouth, who now have six electric vehicles (EVs), we will apply for federal, state, and dealership incentives that will offset most of the costs of the cars plus fast charging stations. The EVs will replace gas-guzzling, hand-me-down police cruisers, which over the 3-year lease period will save the town at least $30,000.
The EVs represent another step in the EMC’s goal to seize opportunities that reduce the town’s energy costs and fossil fuel use. This particular window is opened by a state incentive program funded by fees on each of our electric bills every month. The electricity to charge these cars – and indeed to supply all of Marion’s municipal needs – will soon come from new wind turbines now under construction in Plymouth, a deal initiated by the EMC. Not only will this power be truly green, but it will also be substantially cheaper than our current supplier. Another added benefit is that the EV’s charging stations will be available for public use during business hours when town employees are zipping around quietly on their daily routes. As part of a growing network of charging stations, we hope our sites will encourage more electric vehicles in the region and raise the public’s awareness of our collective obligation to reduce carbon pollution.
Important elements of our new Master Plan, now under development by the Planning Board, pertain to decreasing the town’s vulnerability to a changing climate. This program to bring EVs to Marion is a win-win-win for us all: saving money, reducing fossil fuel use, and moving Marion toward a more sustainable future.
Jennifer Francis, Marion’s Energy Management Committee
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