The Marblehead Municipal Light Commission selected Jonathan Blair as its new general manager Tuesday, choosing the former Ipswich Electric Light Department leader from a field of more than 90 applicants.
Blair currently works as a senior managing consultant at Energy and Environmental Economics in Boston. He previously managed Ipswich Electric Light Department for nearly seven years before joining the consulting firm in 2023.
The Gloucester native will succeed Joseph Kowalik, whose contract expires April 7, 2026. The commission voted in April not to renew Kowalik’s agreement and approved a retention bonus package worth up to $200,000 to ensure continuity through the transition.
The hiring subcommittee unanimously ranked Blair highest among applicants based on specific criteria, according to commission members.
“From the beginning, I think we set out to basically have a rubric that allowed us to evaluate somewhere like 90 resumes and really whittle it down,” said Commissioner Adam Smith, a member of the hiring subcommittee. “This rubric was based on four key areas: public utility experience, technical knowledge, proven leadership and demonstrated execution.”
Smith added that Blair’s technical knowledge distinguished him from other candidates. The commission voted 4-1 to approve Blair’s appointment, with Commissioner Mike Hull casting the lone abstention.
“I’m not satisfied with the whole process that took place,” Hull said, explaining his decision not to support the motion despite Blair’s qualifications.
From 2016-2023 in Ipswich, Blair managed a municipal plant that served about 7,000 customers compared to Marblehead’s 10,000, with both being coastal Massachusetts communities facing similar infrastructure and workforce challenges.
During his tenure at Ipswich, Blair reduced the utility’s carbon intensity by half over five years while securing more than $5 million in third-party funding for strategic programs and infrastructure. The American Public Power Association recognized Ipswich as a Sustainable Energy Provider in 2022.
Blair developed the ReSource decarbonization program, which became the first municipal program of its kind in Massachusetts and was later incorporated into the governor’s energy affordability legislation.
In 2023, Blair resigned from his position in Ipswich after a series of contract disputes and mounting friction with town leadership, according to the Ipswich Local News. He had been operating under a one-year evergreen clause since his three-year contract expired and publicly urged the Select Board to resolve what he described as a problematic situation.
Blair later told the Ipswich Local News that town officials had deprioritized his contract and that their actions revealed a fundamental misalignment in values. He pointed to a controversial governance proposal that would have placed the Electric Light Department under the town manager’s direct control, calling it an attempt to consolidate power and weaken the department’s independence during a critical time for energy transition.
“The damage was pretty deep,” Blair told the Ipswich News about efforts by new board members to retain him, adding that trust could not be rebuilt once broken.
His current consulting work includes rate design, decarbonization planning and battery energy storage analysis for utilities nationwide.
Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and a master of business administration in sustainability from Boston University. He served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, earning recognition as Submarine Junior Officer of the Year in 2013.
The Marblehead Municipal Light Department serves about 10,000 customers with an annual budget of approximately $20 million, making it the second-largest municipal budget in town. The utility operates with a commitment to reaching net zero emissions.
The position includes team leadership of approximately 20 staff members, reliability and system management, financial planning and compliance with federal, state and municipal regulations. The role also encompasses power portfolio management, community engagement and developing innovative initiatives for the utility’s carbon-free energy transition. The salary range is $170,000 to $230,000 with benefits including pension, health insurance and paid vacation.
Blair joins a department that has invested $10 million in a Village 13 Substation upgrade, featuring massive switchgear installations delivered in July that will increase power capacity to accommodate growing electrification demands.
The utility has achieved success in clean energy transition, increasing its carbon-free electricity portfolio from 42% to 65% within one year by investing in nuclear, wind and hydro sources. This environmental progress came alongside a 3.4% reduction in wholesale power costs.
The department maintains strong fiscal health through disciplined financial management, setting aside 5% of annual revenue for capital improvements. This approach enabled the Village 13 project to be completed using cash reserves without impacting customer rates.
The other finalists were Mary Usovicz, current general manager of Merrimac Municipal Light Department, and Nathan Mitchell, a professional engineer with 30 years of utility experience.
