For many years, I have had the great honor and pleasure to work with Norm Hills on Marion’s Energy Management Committee, which has made great strides in reducing the Town’s energy costs, shifting us away from fossil fuels and guiding Marion to a more sustainable future. Norm has been an active leader in each of our successful initiatives.

These successful EMC efforts included the procurement of Marion’s municipal electricity to greener and more sustainable sources that also reduce Marion’s costs by over 20 percent. Additional town maintenance and energy savings were realized after the EMC’s pursuit of state funding to replace inefficient lighting and heating systems at the Sippican School, the Music Hall and the Taber Library. The town’s solar bylaw that EMC initiated ensures that solar installations will be compatible with our community. The Municipal Solar Overlay District that the EMC developed brings Marion closer to becoming a Massachusetts designated Green Community and being eligible for additional state grant funding.

Another example that may be seen driving about town is the Recreation Department’s new electric car. This vehicle and its charging stations were acquired through a grant at no cost to Marion. For town residents, your individual electric bills may be lower due to EMC’s promotion of the Energy Aggregation program, a program that combined the buying power of all our residential bills for a lower rate. In each of these efforts, Norm Hills has stepped up to do research, meet with technicians, write documents and reach out to key players.

Norm Hills is a pleasure to work with and has demonstrated time and again that he is an innovative problem solver, a team player who has always supported and respected others as equals and a leader. Norm has shown me over the years how dedicated he is to Marion. Like many others in Marion, and as a parent of three children on our school system, it is the future of Marion that I am concerned about; what direction are we going and who will lead us there?

Norm has a genuine commitment to Marion and its future and the town’s stewardship would be best with Norm as Selectman. Please vote for Norm Hills for Selectman on Friday, May 13th.

Rob Fisher