ATHOL – Lee Gershon, a member of the Town Energy Committee and the Decarbonization Task Force, tried unsuccessfully to convince the Capital Program Committee to recommend the purchase of an electric vehicle for use by North Quabbin Animal Control.

At a recent meeting, the CPC voted to recommend the purchase of a new gas-powered Ford F-150 for animal control, as requested by Police Chief Craig Lundgren, at an estimated cost of $65,000. North Quabbin Animal Control serves the towns of Athol, Orange and Royalston.

“One of the things we have to do to remain a Green Community under Green Communities 2.0,” Gershon told the committee, is to enact an EV purchasing policy. “What you have to demonstrate is that there is no electric vehicle that would provide you with the services you need in order to buy a gas vehicle.”

Gershon vouched for the reliability of the EV version of the F-150, which he has owned and driven for three years, adding it would be less expensive than the gas-powered alternative.

“You can pick one up for like $57,000. There’s a $750 federal tax credit. And there is a $7,500 state incentive available,” he said. “So, it’s clearly the cheaper of the two vehicles.”

Gershon further explained that the range of the electric version of the F-150 should easily serve the needs of animal control.

“You’re going to go out every single day with at least 160 miles of range,” he said. “And you can charge them wherever you are. All you need is a 220-volt plug; that’s all it takes, and a $500 charger.

Referencing two EV vans purchased last year by the Public Works Department, committee member Gino Tontodonato noted that “those vehicles are housed indoors.” The animal control vehicle, he said, is kept outside. “Won’t that be a problem in cold weather?”

Gershon responded that his F-150 also sits outside overnight, and he has never had a problem starting the vehicle in cold weather.

“The last time that this all came up,” CPC member Heather Butler interjected, “the Decarbonization Committee was going to look at a town policy for electric or hybrid vehicles.”

Gershon said the committee had voted on such a policy and submitted it to the Town Manager, and it has been sent to the Selectboard.

“This board, at this point, takes it all under advisement and should a request come in specifically from a department head requesting funds for a hybrid or electric vehicle, I don’t think we would discourage them from buying one,” Butler said. “But until the town adopts an electric vehicle policy, we really can’t force anybody to bring forward such a request.”

In response to a question from Tontodonato, Gershon said Lundgren had appeared at a Decarbonization Task Force meeting “and he did not even want to consider an electric vehicle. He came to the committee, and he said he wouldn’t even consider it.”

Capital Program Committee Chair Jim Smith said, “Without an existing policy, I don’t think we are sufficiently ready as a town to bring in a fleet of electric vehicles at this point. This will kind of get pushed to the side until the town manager reviews the policy, approaches the Selectboard with it, and then we run with it.”

Butler suggested that the Decarbonization Task Force and Town Energy Committee should again approach Town Manager Shaun Suhoski in order to secure his decision on the proposed hybrid/EV purchasing policy for the town.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.