Lebanon committee weighs e-bike charging pilot and downtown Level 2 EV sites as grant options stall

Lebanon committee members discussed next steps for an e-bike charging pilot and options for downtown Level 2 electric-vehicle charging after a recent T-Mobile grant application was unsuccessful.

A presenter outlined three candidate sites: the Parks & Rec building near the ball field (low cost, existing outlets; estimated $1,000–$5,000 to retrofit), the south end of the rail-trail tunnel (nearby power but possible state-ownership and rehabilitation complications), and a highly visible downtown cement pad (closest to the mall but costliest, estimated $15,000–$19,000). Committee members noted the Rec & Parks site could be fastest to launch and that Paul Coates (Parks) had expressed preliminary openness; the tunnel option may require state permission because part of the structure and deck is state-owned and on a state rehabilitation list.

Members discussed practical design choices: simple outlets with a locked box or a two-port bicycle charging station with locking battery slots; the presenter said many e-bike users carry chargers and that a secure box or park-style station could reduce theft risk. For the downtown cement pad the presenter noted limited funds—about $9,300 already raised for the project—and suggested selling surplus solar panels to help close the gap or seeking local funders such as Mascoma Bank or the Burn Foundation. The presenter also flagged that seasonal shelters or pop-up canopies would add cost and that solar on a nearby rooftop was not feasible for year-round charging.

The committee also reviewed planning efforts to amend site-plan review regulations to explicitly accommodate low-power Level 2 charging as part of zoning changes; the planning board largely agreed to advance the amendments and an upcoming public hearing was anticipated. Members recommended the city consider one or two small local installations (for example the Hanover Street lot pole or a single Level 2 charger with two ports in the Hanover lot) that could be pursued with local philanthropic support or a third-party operator while awaiting state grant timing.

No formal vote was recorded on siting; next steps recorded on the transcript included staff follow-up with potential local funders and further site evaluation, with the committee noting grant deadlines for related heat-pump and DES charging programs.