City Appoints New Energy & Environment Director

Medford’s new Energy and Environment Director Alicia Hunt (pictured, far right) with Mayor Michael McGlynn in a Prius on-loan to the city in 2011.

The City of Medford is pleased to announce the appointment of Alicia Hunt as the new Director of Energy & Environment/Environmental Agent for the City. Alicia has served in the Office of Energy & Environment for 3 years and in that time has helped to bring in and administer over a million dollars in grant money and over $600,000 in utility incentives from National Grid.

Ms. Hunt has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from MIT in City Planning. Prior to working for Medford, Alicia worked at MIT for 13 years in a variety of leadership roles. Alicia has worked effectively with staff throughout the City to create more efficient and better functioning buildings. She has also performed outreach with a number of civic groups in Medford to help educate our residents about energy efficiency and opportunities to reduce energy usage in their homes.

“She was the natural choice to replace Carey Duques, who also did a great job! I have every confidence in Alicia’s ability and her passion for both the City of Medford and the environment,” said Mayor Michael J. McGlynn. “Her first milestone in the City of Medford was to get the City designated one of the first Green Communities in Massachusetts.”

Alicia’s work with the Green Communities Program and overseeing the City’s Federal ARRA grant was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy when they asked Medford to be the first municipality in Massachusetts to join the U.S. Better Buildings Challenge. The Department of Energy subsequently asked Alicia to speak at its first Better Buildings Challenge Conference in Denver about Medford’s participation in the Green Communities Program.

In recent years, Medford has received a number of awards for its ongoing green initiatives. Five of the schools have earned Energy Star Plaques for the past three years. Medford received a Leading by Example Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Pickard Innovation Award from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and an award from the National Conference of Mayors for our Go Green Medford work. Alicia also helped Medford negotiate a new municipal electric and gas supply contract that will save the city $1.7 million dollars over three years.

“I am looking forward to enhancing our programs that help the residents and businesses of Medford reduce their energy usage, save money and reduce their environmental impact,” said Director Hunt.

Alicia resides in Medford with her husband, Jonathan, and three children. Her two older children attend Medford Public Schools. She is active with the Medford Family Network, Cub Scout Pack #416, Red Cross Disaster Services and co-chairs the Greening Grace Committee at Grace Episcopal Church in Medford.

– Information from Mayor Michael McGlynn’s office