Sustainability division reports solar, insulation and a large battery planned for city facilities

At the Lowell Sustainability Council meeting, the sustainability division reported progress on building-energy upgrades and outlined plans for additional solar and insulation work across city facilities. The division said lighting upgrades at the library are nearly complete, that solar work has started at Sullivan School and will follow at Shaughnessy School, and that pipe and condensate-tank insulation projects plus weatherization are planned at multiple schools and the council building.

On larger infrastructure, the presenter (Agency official, Speaker 4) described an upcoming project at the city drinking water plant: electrical upgrades, a new roof, replacement and expansion of the site’s solar arrays and installation of a large battery energy-storage system. The presenter said a third-party installer (Select, per the discussion) will apply for and administer the grant, install the battery and retain ownership and maintenance responsibilities; the battery is expected to support demand-response programs and provide resilience while supplementing — not replacing — fossil-fuel backup generators.

Council members asked about battery size, ownership and whether the system would qualify for demand-response revenue streams. The presenter said the battery would be substantial in size (no exact capacity given), would assist during peak-demand windows (often late afternoon/early evening) and could provide revenue by discharging during high-cost periods and charging during low-cost overnight hours.

Members also discussed grant opportunities: the sustainability division plans to apply for a Green Communities grant in the spring, and members noted state-level grant language and compliance questions affecting other grants (including a cited clause in some grants tied to immigration enforcement that has led to state attorney general involvement for clarification).