Three affordable properties on Cape Cod will receive access to electric vehicles and charging stations in new car-share program
BOSTON – Residents at three affordable housing developments in Bourne and Barnstable owned by nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) will have access to electric vehicle car-sharing and charging stations as part of an innovative statewide program to improve access to clean transportation in underserved communities.
In celebration of Earth Month, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced over $9 million in funding for nine projects as part of the second round of the Accelerating Clean Transportation for All (ACT4All 2) program. The funding supports innovative and equitable transportation initiatives that help improve access to clean transportation options, including in environmental justice (EJ) communities. These projects are designed to address health and environmental challenges while providing replicable models that can be implemented across the state.
“Every community deserves access to reliable transportation. With these investments, we are providing cleaner and more affordable options to residents who need them most, helping reduce both costs and pollution,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This funding will help to improve air quality, ease commutes, and make Massachusetts a healthier place to live and work.”
“The car-share program is one more way we can achieve our goal of encouraging sustainable practices at our Cape Cod properties,” said Aaron Gornstein, POAH President/CEO. He noted that POAH has put environmental sustainability at the forefront of POAH’s Cape and South Shore developments with Passive House energy efficiency standards or solar roofs built into its housing in Brewster, Bourne, Dennis and Weymouth. Brandy Hill in Weymouth, Canal Bluffs in Bourne and Cromwell Court in Hyannis are targeted to participate in the car share program.
The awarded projects focus on two key areas: expanding electric vehicle charging access and reducing pollution from public transit. Several projects will install EV charging stations in multi-unit housing and communities that have not had accessibility before. This will allow more people, especially renters and residents without dedicated parking, to switch to electric vehicles. Some sites will receive EV charging stations as well. Other projects will help public transit authorities upgrade to cleaner buses, reducing pollution and providing better public transportation options.
“MassCEC’s ACT4All program is accelerating innovative, community-centered solutions to expand clean transportation access throughout Massachusetts. These projects go beyond bold ideas—they serve as models for strategies that can be scaled across the state and beyond, to ensure more communities benefit from sustainable mobility options," said MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert. “By investing in these forward-thinking initiatives, Massachusetts is cementing its leadership in clean energy and setting the standard that all residents should have access to the benefits of clean transportation.”
Among the organizations that will participate in a Cape Cod program are Equal Energy Mobility that will install streetlight-mounted EV chargers in Barnstable County in collaboration with Zipcar and other partners.
About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, and to secure long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts.
About POAH: Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a nonprofit developer, owner and operator of more than 14,000 affordable rental apartments nationwide including 875 on Cape Cod.
Image: Brandy Hill in Wareham, MA is one of the POAH properties that will have access to EV car sharing.