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Council seeks answers after National Grid cancels Lowell geothermal pilot; residents and councilors press for next steps
Summary
Council asked the city manager to engage UMass Lowell and National Grid to review the recently canceled geothermal pilot and examine options to proceed or identify alternatives.
Councilors voted to ask the city manager to engage UMass Lowell and National Grid to review lessons from a recently canceled geothermal pilot and to explore paths forward or alternate local energy pilots.
Resident Sarah Lapp told the council she was "really here to speak in support of the motion" and called the pilot's abrupt cancellation "disingenuous" given similar pilots proceeding in Framingham and Boston. "I do think that the city should really seek answers as to what happened and to why this, isn't gonna continue," she said.
Why it matters: Councilors characterized the pilot as a potential tool to reduce energy costs for residents and saw value in re-examining the reasons National Grid gave for cancellation and whether university research funds or other public grants could make a project viable.
What happened at the meeting
- Councilor Jeunesse introduced a motion requesting the city manager engage UMass Lowell and National Grid to review the canceled geothermal pilot and evaluate options or alternative energy pilots. The motion was seconded and approved. - Several councilors recounted attending a groundbreaking and presentations by National Grid and UMass Lowell; they said homeowners in the proposed service area had expressed interest and disappointment at the cancellation. - Councilors asked staff to seek answers about whether cost, geology or profitability drove the decision and to determine whether UMass Lowell or state/federal research funds could help restart a pilot.
Supporting details
- Sarah Lapp (200 Market St., Unit 14) said she found it "disingenuous" that National Grid cited inflation and geology when Framingham is pursuing a similar project. - Councilor Austin Young recalled attending the groundbreaking with the manager and UMass Lowell and said homeowners had been excited and should be notified by National Grid.
Ending
Staff will be asked to report back on what was learned by National Grid, what UMass Lowell can contribute (including research funding), and whether alternative energy pilot options are feasible for Lowell.
