Neighbors, advocates and councilors press Markley Group request for large diesel expansion; council refers matter to joint subcommittee

Markley Group LLC returned to the Lowell City Council on Sept. 23 seeking approval to increase on‑site emergency diesel generator capacity, asking to add roughly 96,700 gallons of storage to the existing approximate 71,100 gallons for a total near 167,800 gallons.

The request drew more than a dozen residents and local advocates who said the expansion would increase air pollution, noise, water demand and safety risks for the surrounding neighborhood. City officials and the company said the petition had been submitted for public review and that the fire department had issued a prior approval for some generator work.

Why it matters: The proposal as described in the petition would make the Markley site one of the largest concentrations of diesel storage within the city. Neighbors said generators and weekly test runs already produce visible noise and fumes; they asked the council to demand more information and enforceable commitments on pollution mitigation, noise monitoring and emergency access.

Residents and environmental groups pressed for more detail. Sam Lambert, municipal and political…