City energy manager reports solar, lighting and weatherization projects nearing completion

Jay Toven, energy manager for the city, briefed the Lowell Sustainability Council on the sustainability division’s recent capital projects and their timelines, saying the work is largely on schedule and many installations will be operational by late spring.

Toven reported lighting upgrades are complete at five or six schools, the JFK building and half of the library, meeting a March 31 deadline. He said upgrades to HVAC motors and drives at several schools and the JFK building constitute a roughly $200,000 project with a small out-of-pocket cost to the city after incentives. “That was like a $200,000 project, and it will only end up paying, like, $12 out of pocket,” Toven said.

On solar installations, Toven said panels have been delivered for the high school and that four school sites (Wang, McAuliffe, Robinson and the high school) should be completed by mid-May. He noted final interconnection to the grid can sometimes delay full activation but expressed optimism the schools would be producing by summer. Toven also described weatherization and efficiency work beginning at JFK (a second round), cemetery buildings, water and wastewater facilities, and various DPW parks buildings.

Council members responded positively to the updates, noting the potential for public events after installations are operational; Toven said a ribbon-cutting or unveiling could be planned once the high school system is active. The council discussed coordinating outreach and potential photo opportunities once the projects are commissioned.

The council did not take formal action on these updates; Toven’s briefing served as an informational report to the advisory body.