Installation at the McCauliffe Elementary School, which along with the installment at the Robinson Middle School, have collectively generated more than 1 million kWh of clean energy and helped the City avoid over $100k in utility costs to date. (Photo courtesy City of Lowell)
Lowell – The City of Lowell is expanding its commitment to renewable energy with six new municipal solar projects developed and installed by Solect Energy, representing a combined 1.76 MW of new solar capacity across City properties.
Four projects came online in January 2026, with two additional projects that went live later in the year. Together, Solect’s six projects (1.76 MW of solar capacity) nearly tripled Lowell’s existing behind-the-meter solar capacity, bringing the city’s total installed capacity to approximately 2.64 MW.
The four projects that went live in January are located at Lowell High School (366 kW), Wang Middle School (349 kW), Robinson Middle School (304 kW), and McAuliffe Elementary School (237 kW). From January through October, these systems generated more than 1,000,000 kWh of clean energy and helped the City of Lowell avoid approximately $104,000 in utility costs.
The two additional Solect Energy projects at Shaughnessy Elementary School (175 kW) and Sullivan Middle School (329 kW) went live in September and October 2026, further expanding Lowell’s use of on-site renewable energy across its municipal properties.
Together, the six projects demonstrate how municipalities can use available solar opportunities to address both near-term operating costs and longer-term energy and sustainability goals. By generating electricity on-site, Lowell can reduce its reliance on grid-supplied electricity while making productive use of its municipal buildings and facilities.
“These projects represent an important investment in Lowell’s future,” said Mayor Erik R. Gitschier. “We are taking meaningful steps to reduce energy costs for our schools and municipal buildings while advancing our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This is about making long-term investments that benefit our residents, protect taxpayer dollars, and create a cleaner, more sustainable city for future generations.”
“In the City of Lowell, we are always looking for win-win solutions,” adds City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “Solar development allows us to save on our energy costs, while reducing emissions. We are proud to advance our fiscal and sustainability goals with these projects.”
Installation at the Robinson Middle School, which along with the installation at the McCauliffe Elementary School, have collectively generated more than 1 million kWh of clean energy and helped the City avoid over $100k in utility costs to date. (Photo courtesy City of Lowell)
“By leveraging the partnership available with Power Options and Solect Energy, the City has been able to accelerate our renewable energy development by nearly tripling our installed capacity year-over-year. We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum in the coming years.” Katherine Moses, Sustainability Director, City of Lowell
The projects were developed and installed by Solect Energy through the PowerOptions Solar & Storage Program. Through the program, municipalities and other public-sector organizations can access pre-vetted solar and energy storage solutions and pre-negotiated contract structures, helping streamline project development.
“Lowell made a decision other cities should pay attention to,” notes Walter Gray, Program Director, PowerOptions. “Instead of approaching solar building by building, they invested the time to look across their full portfolio and then acted on it in time to capture the best incentive environment. PowerOptions made that actionable by streamlining the procurement and contracting process, but the ambition here was all Lowell’s. Congratulations to the city on delivering savings to taxpayers as well as a significant amount of clean energy to the grid.”
“Lowell has been a great partner throughout these projects, and the City has done an excellent job taking advantage of the solar opportunities available across its municipal properties,” said John Dimodica, Business Development Manager, Solect Energy. “These projects show what’s possible when municipalities look at solar not only as a way to support their sustainability goals, but also as a practical investment that can deliver meaningful savings in the short term and over the long term.”
Looking ahead, Lowell’s partnership with Solect Energy has the potential to deliver even greater benefits.
The City is currently contracted to potentially develop solar across 22 additional sites. If all available opportunities are realized, Lowell could increase its behind-the-meter solar capacity more than tenfold from its 2025 baseline by 2030, generating nearly 10 million kWh of clean energy annually and avoiding close to $1 million in annual electricity costs.
These potential projects represent another significant step toward expanding the City’s renewable energy portfolio and delivering long-term savings for its residents and taxpayers.
