Portland residents urge rooftop solar on schools and a renewed push on pedestrian safety during council public comment

Members of the public used the council’s public-comment period to press two intertwined priorities: installing rooftop solar arrays on public schools and renewing the city’s focus on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Joey Brunel of Pine Street, speaking for the Portland Climate Action Team, urged the council to make large-scale rooftop solar on schools a top 2026 priority, saying "If Dover can do it, why can't Portland, Maine?" Brunel described outreach to installers and neighboring towns and argued the projects could "pay for itself incredibly quickly" and need not cost taxpayers upfront. Dave Gulick of Spring Street noted Mount Ararat High School’s 1,639 panels and cited Westbrook’s contracts that are saving the district hundreds of thousands annually, saying rooftop solar can provide long-term savings and educational opportunities.

Several speakers framed rooftop solar as both a climate and budgetary strategy. Linda Stimson, a retired ELL teacher and Portland Climate Action Team member, told the council the initiative was endorsed by the council in 2019 and urged renewed urgency so students and classrooms can benefit. Sarah Southard suggested the city empower the sustainability office to collect school electric bills to analyze potential savings.

Public commenters also called attention to pedestrian safety after recent local fatalities. Eric Hager, representing the Maine Track Club, entered Diane Bell's name into the record and said she "was killed at the intersection of Marginal Way and Franklin Arterial," urging the council and the transportation committee to recommit to pedestrian and bicycle safety measures. Ed Soslovic, also speaking for the track club community, urged lower speed limits, photo enforcement and separated off-road paths for nonmotorized users to reduce fatalities.

Councilors did not take immediate policy votes on solar or transportation during the meeting but acknowledged the requests. The public urged the council to direct staff or committees to evaluate solar opportunities on school roofs, consider energy-savings performance contracts similar to Westbrook's approach, and bring forward specific pedestrian-safety interventions.

What the public asked for

- A city goal for 2026 to pursue rooftop solar on schools and municipal buildings and to empower the sustainability office to collect data on electricity usage. - A transportation-committee recommitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety, including lower speed limits and enforcement mechanisms.

Next steps

Speakers asked the council to add rooftop-solar studies to the 2026 work plan and for staff or the relevant committee to report back with feasibility and funding details. Councilors indicated those requests would be considered as part of goal-setting and committee work plans.