Harwich Energy Committee Urges New Town Administrator to Revive Climate Leader Grant Bid

Other Committee · Meeting of July 20, 2026

Harwich Energy and Climate Action Committee pressed new Town Administrator Jim Mulcahy to revive the town's stalled application for the state's Climate Leader Program at a July 20 meeting. The program would open access to between $1 million and $1.5 million in state energy grants — compared with the $250,000 cap under the town's current Green Community status — for projects including HVAC replacements and public EV charging stations. Committee members Valerie Dow, Charlie Cech, and new member Pam Latimer described years of unsuccessful presentations to the Select Board, including a virtual appearance by state program officer Lisa Sullivan that the committee said was poorly received.

Mulcahy, two months into his position, pledged to review the program, consult with Barnstable's energy coordinator Sean Hogan — credited with bringing in roughly $40 million in grants to that town — and direct part-time grant writer Stephanie Hall to pursue EV charger funding that the committee said has gone unaddressed. The committee also renewed a years-old push for at least one public charging unit in the Schoolhouse parking lot, noting that an Eversource site evaluation completed under a prior administration was never acted upon while neighboring Barnstable has installed approximately 50 grant-funded chargers.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,096 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.