Hull Wins $311K Grant for EV Charging Stations

Hull's Municipal Light Plant just won a $311,236 grant that will bring electric vehicle charging to three neighborhoods without costing residents a penny.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center award will install three charging stations with two chargers each in the Surfside, Kenberma, and Pemberton areas. Town Manager Jennifer Constable confirmed that EV drivers will pay for the electricity they use, ensuring local ratepayers won't shoulder the cost.

What makes this project special is the technology. Instead of building bulky new stations from scratch, a company called Voltpost will retrofit existing lampposts and utility poles into charging platforms.

This approach slashes costs and uses less space than traditional charging stations. It's part of a broader initiative involving Hull Light, Belmont Light, and the Ipswich Electric Light Department through MassCEC's InnovateMass Gridtech program.

Light board chair Tom Burns wants to work with local officials on usage rules, including how long vehicles can charge and fair pricing. "Hopefully they won't have a negative impact on businesses," he said, noting more discussions will follow.

The Ripple Effect

Hull's charging stations represent more than convenient pit stops for electric cars. They're part of a growing network making clean transportation accessible in smaller communities that often get overlooked in infrastructure projects.

By choosing the lamppost retrofit model, Hull is proving that towns don't need massive budgets or footprints to support the shift to electric vehicles. Other Massachusetts communities are watching closely, and the success here could inspire similar projects across New England.

The grant also strengthens Hull's connection to the Clean Energy Climate Action Committee, which recently requested discussions about accelerating the town's path to 100% carbon-free energy by 2030. These charging stations are a practical step toward that ambitious goal.

Clean energy infrastructure in coastal towns like Hull matters for climate resilience too. As these communities face rising sea levels and stronger storms, reducing carbon emissions becomes both a global responsibility and local survival strategy.

Hull is showing that going green doesn't mean going broke.