MARBLEHEAD — While on-street electric vehicle charging is still rare across Massachusetts, Marblehead could be among the earliest adopters of utility-pole-mounted public charging.
As part of the Marblehead On-Street EV Charging Study, funded through a MassCEC grant and designed to inform a future town-wide EV charging plan, Leidos engineers visited each site with municipal staff, including Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey, Marblehead Municipal Light Department Commissioner Michael Hull, and Leidos Engineer Susan Pace, who emphasized how critical this work is for Marblehead’s long-term climate goals and for residents who lack driveways or off-street parking.
Standing at 10 Franklin St., where the proposed charging station would be located at the telephone pole, Casey underscored why the on-street study is an essential next step for the community.
“This is going to be really important, especially in our old and historic district,” Casey said. “We don’t have a lot of off-street parking opportunities here, and putting chargers on poles or next to poles in a place that wasn’t necessarily designed for cars is really important to meeting that transition, but also making it convenient for residents.”
Casey has been working closely with Leidos to evaluate feasibility and ensure that the town’s engineering criteria, accessibility needs, and public safety considerations are factored into the study.
Casey also noted his interest in making EV charging more visible and accessible. “Having chargers spread more around town, not just at the light department or municipal lots, is the goal. People shouldn’t have to end up in the ‘weirdest places,’ as I’ve experienced myself, just to get a charge.”
Steve Conti from Commonwealth Electrical Technology said, “We are excited to partner with the Town of Marblehead on the On-Street Charging Solutions Program. We hope that the Feasibility Study Report will serve as a valuable resource for town officials as they plan for possible future on-street EV charger installations.”
The evaluated locations, spread throughout town, came from internal collaboration among town staff, Leidos, and the Light Department.
He explained, “We proposed these six, and Leidos is doing the physical evaluation of those proposals today. We’re requesting feedback from the public on how they feel about those, but also looking at whether there are other locations the public wants to suggest.”
Pace said that their analysis will highlight density, environmental factors, and regulatory considerations—but will not declare a single “best” site.
Some of the proposed site locations are 9 Gerry St., 274 Washington St., 10 Franklin Street, 26 Shepard St., 48 Birch St., and 21 Brook Road.
Much of the discussion centered on the potential to install streetlight- or utility-pole-mounted chargers, a solution still in its infancy in Massachusetts. Pole-Mounted Charging Could Make Marblehead a State Leader.
Pace said, “This location here at Franklin Street — they are really interested in streetlight and utility-pole-mounted charging stations. That’s new here in Massachusetts. Melrose had the first pilot with National Grid. Marblehead would be the second, if the Town chooses to install.”
Casey, who is spearheading the planning effort, explained how the study fits into the broader climate roadmap. “This is going to play a foundational role in developing our larger town-wide public EV charging plan,” he said. “Vehicles are the second-largest source of emissions, and we need to plan how we’re going to convert those to electric — and also charge them.”
Casey added that Marblehead’s existing chargers — two at Mary Alley, two at the Light Department, and one at Roundhouse Road — are “not always walkable or near destinations.” On-street chargers could fill that gap.
“That’s why we asked you to come out to Franklin Street today. Marblehead hasn’t always been designed for cars, and it’s hard to put chargers in. But this is exactly where people live — and where they need accessible charging.”
MMLD Commissioner Michael Hull voiced strong support for expanding public charging, especially in pedestrian-friendly areas.
“For the sites we’re looking at today, I think they’re great because they add accessibility to the EV owner that doesn’t exist right now,” Hull said. “As soon as we get funding in place and everything’s approved…we want these in the ground.”
Hull also explained the financial piece: the state’s MassEVIP program offers 100% rebate funding up to $50,000 per street address, though ongoing software and maintenance costs remain considerations.
Leidos expects to deliver its full report in late winter, in February or March, after which Casey and Hull plan to integrate findings into Marblehead’s future EV charging plan.
Although the Town has circulated a public survey for months, responses have been limited.
Pace stressed the importance of resident engagement:
“The survey really matters,” she said. “We want to know how people feel about these locations — and if there are others they want us to consider.”
The survey and project details are available here:
https://marbleheadma.gov/request-for-feedback-marblehead-on-street-charging-study/
