The three-time All-America City of Chelsea Massachusetts – a city of champions, a city of hope – has been selected to participate in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) On-Street Charging Solutions Program, a state-funded initiative to expand access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and reduce barriers to EV adoption for communities typically underserved in the transition to clean energy.
Through this program, Chelsea will receive free technical support and installation for up to 10 “Level 2” curbside EV charging stations intended for residents who do not have access to off-street parking. To ensure the charging stations are placed in the best possible locations, the City and its partners at MassCEC are surveying the community. The survey can be accessed by visiting www.chelseama.gov.
“This partnership is a major step toward ensuring our residents without access to driveways or garages can participate in the transition to clean energy,” said Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez. “We’re excited to collaborate with MassCEC, as well as our community members, whose input will be instrumental in identifying the best locations for these new charging stations.”
This opportunity is made possible through the Implementation Pathway branch of the MassCEC program, in partnership with Commonwealth Electric Technologies (CET) and Leidos Engineering, which provides selected municipalities with funding, planning resources, and public outreach support to install EV chargers in convenient, publicly accessible locations. The goal is to address equity gaps in EV infrastructure and reduce barriers to EV adoption in densely populated neighborhoods and environmental justice communities.
Chelsea’s selection reflects its proactive efforts to enhance sustainability, promote environmental justice, and support the Commonwealth’s climate goals. By participating in this program, the city will help expand EV access to renters and others without access to private charging.
The On-Street Charging Solutions Program is funded by MassCEC with support from the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC) through the American Rescue Plan Act. With over 50 municipalities submitting applications, Chelsea is among a select group of communities chosen to move forward with on-the-ground implementation.
More than a dozen other communities in Massachusetts were selected to expand their EV Charging Stations Solutions through MassCEC’s program and include: Brockton, Brookline, Cambridge, Fitchburg, Framingham, Holyoke, Lynn, Medford, New Bedford, Norwood, Revere, Somerville, Springfield, and Worcester.
For more information about the program and updates on EV charging infrastructure in Chelsea, visit www.chelseama.gov.