Council approves bundled agreements including Soltis Energy solar purchase after public praise for sustainability work

The Lowell City Council voted Jan. 6 to approve a bundled set of agreements that includes a power purchase agreement with Soltis Energy Development LLC for offsite solar generation, an easement with Boston Gas Company and a license agreement with the Lowell Festival Foundation.

Steve Maglioli, speaking for 350 Massive Greater Lowell, commended the city's sustainability director, Moses, and told the council the power purchase arrangement will bring "nearly 8 megawatt hours of solar generation" and long-term cost savings for the city. "You deserve it," Maglioli said of the director's work, while urging broader measures (updated building codes and expanded Mass Save programs) so residents can see direct utility-bill savings.

CFO Baldwin described a separate, small private grant earlier on the agenda for the fire department, and explained the Walmart Spark Good funds would buy tripod lights for emergency command boards.

After public comment, the council took a single roll-call vote on the bundled motion to adopt items 5.2 (Soltis Energy agreement), 5.3 (Boston Gas easement) and 5.4 (Lowell Festival Foundation license). The clerk recorded 11 "Yes" votes and the bundle passed.

The agreement with Soltis Energy and the easement and license documents will be executed by the city manager as authorized by the vote. The council did not discuss specific contract terms such as price per kilowatt-hour or contract duration during the recorded excerpt; those details were not specified in the transcript.

The council's approval follows public praise for the sustainability office and recommendations from local clean-energy advocates that the city pursue additional policies to capture household-level savings.