Pomfret pg 1 6-6-24
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Welcome, EV Chargers
The town of Pomfret cut the ribbon on two of its 10 EV chargers last week. From left: Charlie Tracy, chair of the Economic Development Commission; Elle Sherman, executive director of the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce; First Selectman Maureen Nicholson; Joe Carlone, president of the chamber; Andi Laemmel and Don Potter from Titan Energy and Mark Scribner, Pomfret resident and EV expert. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — Pomfret cut the ribbon and took a step into the future last week.
Ten EV chargers were recently installed in Pomfret, all along main roads. Last week EV experts, town officials and more cut the ribbon at the two fast-chargers at Town Hall.
First Selectman Maureen Nicholson said it was a “very steep learning curve” for her but she’s glad Pomfret now has a huge EV charging program. Mark Scribner, a Pomfret resident and EV expert who helped the town’s program, said it’s not really complicated — “ a kid goes to put gas in a car and the first time it seems complicated.” This is the same thing — just the first time.
There are two at the Pomfret Community Center and two at the Pomfret Public Library. There are also four at the Pomfret Community School. The two at the town hall are the only fast chargers. Nicholson said she felt lucky — 24 hours after the town was awarded an Eversource grant for the fast chargers, the program was canceled.
Scribner said key to a successful EV charger program are the four “P’s”: People, place, product and price.
The all-important price setting, he said, is a lot like a “Goldilocks” approach. The price can’t be too high nor too low. The prices set at Pomfret’s are just right in his estimation. Apple to apples, he said the equivalent in “gasoline language” would be around $2 per gallon.
Northeastern Chamber of Commerce president Joe Carlone said the chargers will draw people to Pomfret. It will help promote commerce. “This is building commerce.”
Andi Laemmel and Don Potter from Titan Energy New England thanked Pomfret for shepherding EV chargers into the area.
Recalling the old signs at gas stations on the way to the Cape, Nicholson joked that she should put up a sign “Last EV charge before the Cape.”
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