FY26 A.I. Hedge Energy Costs Without the Lift*
Hedge Energy Costs Without the Lift: Lowell's Portfolio Approach to Solar for Any District Size
You don't control energy costs but feel the rate hikes. You're under pressure to improve building conditions (heat, cooling, air quality) without adding budget strain. And there's rarely bandwidth left for another long procurement.
Lowell faced the same realities. In this session, Lowell Public Schools and the City of Lowell will share how they built a portfolio approach to solar that hedges energy costs, helps improve building operations, and required no separate RFP. The PowerOptions Solar & Energy Storage Program has already run the competitive procurement, with Solect as the awarded provider.
Lowell's portfolio has grown to 26 sites, but the same approach works at any size. Smaller districts often start with two or three ready buildings. You'll leave with a practical playbook: how to assess your facilities and move forward without overloading your team.
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John DiModica
Clean Energy Project Development Executive
Solect Energy
Amanda Dupont
Deputy CFO
Lowell Public Schools
Fehr Gillett
Alternative Fuels Analyst
Power Options
Fehr joined PowerOptions in May 2024 as an intern and transition to a full-time role in July 2025. During her time at PowerOptions, Fehr has managed solar and electric vehicle charging work, moved opportunities forward, and supported the contracting and installation of solar and EV charging projects.
Katherine Moses
Sustainability Director
City of Lowell
Katherine has a MSE in Energy Engineering with a solar concentration from University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has worked in educational settings, as well as federal, state, and local government positions over the past 25 years where she has brought implemented sustainable solutions, including solar development across Lowell's portfolio.
Derek Pinto
Director of Finance and Operations
Lowell Public Schools
Derek Pinto started as the Director of Finance and Operations in Reading Public Schools in July, 2023. Derek began his school business career in California, serving in a K-12 district in the San Francisco Bay area. Business work in higher education as the VP Administrative Services for a 2-year college and VP Administrative Services for a four-year institution followed. Derek began his career in education as a teacher, worked as an Assistant Principal and a Principal inPreK-8 schools. Derek earned a BA (Public Policy & Administration) and B.Ed. from York University, followed by an MBA from McGill University, an MA (Educational Administration) and Ed.D. (Educational Leadership) from California State University. Derek is proud to be a first-year MASBO member and a 3rd year resident of Massachusetts.
Patrick Murphy (Moderator)
Business Manager
Cape Cod Collaborative
Former Barnstable School Committee, former MASC President