Silver Lake Regional School Committee Approves EV Charging Station Application

Project could generate revenue and provide educational opportunities for students

KINGSTON, MA - September 5 - The Silver Lake Regional School Committee voted Thursday night to proceed with an application for installing electric vehicle charging stations on school property, a move that could bring in additional revenue for the district while supporting clean energy initiatives.

The proposal, presented by Inovis Energy, would involve installing three dual-port charging stations, providing a total of six charging spots on campus.

"We're proposing to put EV charging stations on the Silver Lake property for the benefit of our faculty, students, and the general public in the area," explained Gabriel Andresen, the President of Inovis Energy.

According to Andresen, the school district could receive between 20-30% of the profits generated by the charging stations. Based on usage rates at similar installations, he estimated this could amount to $11,500-$17,000 in annual revenue for Silver Lake.

"There's a business model specific to municipalities that works really well where a third party investor will pay for the stations and they will maintain or own and operate the stations at a municipal site," Andresen said.

The charging stations would be available to faculty, students, and members of the public. Andresen noted that having the stations on campus could provide educational benefits as well.

Some committee members raised concerns about safety and parking impacts. Member Jennifer Carroll asked about the potential for strangers to be walking around campus while their vehicles charged.

"We have no idea who's coming on school grounds, and now they're just walking around and, oh, I'm just charging my car. We have no idea who these people are," Carroll said.

Andresen responded that other schools with similar installations have not experienced safety issues, noting that most users tend to stay in their vehicles or nearby while charging.

The committee also discussed potential locations for the charging stations, with options including the senior parking lot or an area near the administration building.

After discussion, the committee voted unanimously to proceed with submitting an application for the project. Superintendent Jill Proulx clarified that this vote does not commit the district to installing the stations, but allows them to move forward with the application process.

"The application submittal is not obligatory, which means we can get you in line and you don't have to go forward even if you get an approval," Andresen explained.

Committee members expressed interest in the potential revenue and educational benefits, while noting they would need to carefully consider safety and logistical concerns before giving final approval to install the charging stations.

The committee also approved an increase in the driver's education fee from $700 to $825, effective spring 2025. The fee hike aims to cover program expenses and create a fund for maintaining and eventually replacing the aging driver's education vehicle.

"The driver's ed teacher was out with a student driving and the car died," Carroll reported. "Thank God, he used his own AAA and was able to safely get a vehicle there and then get that vehicle towed back to the school."

The current driver's education vehicle is a 2015 model experiencing major issues. The fee increase will help ensure the program's sustainability and safety.

Committee members noted that even with the increase, Silver Lake's driver's education program remains competitively priced compared to other schools in the area. Comparable public schools charge between $825 and $875 for their programs, while private schools charge $950 to $1,000.

"When you take what we provide for the kids and what they're getting in that amount of money, as opposed to what they have and then all the other add-ons, they're looking at close to $1,000, if not more," Carroll explained.

The committee emphasized that the fee increase would not affect students already enrolled in the fall program. The new rate will take effect with the next session, likely during the winter break or spring of 2025.