The Lowell City Sustainability Commission voted Thursday to send a letter of support, routed through the city's sustainability division and to the city manager, recommending that Lowell's state legislative delegation back an Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund.

Commissioners said the proposed fund — identified in discussion as House Bill 3577 and Senate Bill 2286 — would create $300 million to subsidize energy‑efficiency renovations of existing buildings, support transitions to electric heating, hot water and cooking systems, and facilitate on‑site renewable energy installations. The commission discussed the proposal in the context of Lowell's aging housing stock, noting a large share of city buildings were built before 1960.

The commission's vote followed a motion to draft a letter of support to be advanced through the sustainability division to the city manager and then to Lowell's delegation. Ryan, who presented the bill background to the group, agreed to draft the letter. A commissioner seconded the motion and the motion carried; one commissioner announced an abstention so they could review updated bill language before endorsing final text.

Commissioners framed the letter as a recommendation — not binding city policy — and said it would emphasize Lowell‑specific considerations, including eligibility for funds for environmental‑justice and gateway cities and how grant flows would operate through city accounts. The commission discussed that state funding would be used rather than local tax increases.

Discussion referenced the city's recent work on building electrification and the local stretch code conversation; members said that retrofits are an important complement to new‑construction codes because most buildings that will exist in 2050 are already built.

Jay, speaking in a staff role for the sustainability division, confirmed the letter would be routed through the division for transmittal to the city manager as the commission had been advised by city staff. The commission recorded the decision to move forward with a draft letter and assigned Ryan to prepare it with staff support.

The commission did not adopt or approve specific language for the letter at the meeting; one member asked to see updated bill text before final endorsement. The group expects to circulate a draft through the sustainability division for review and transmittal.

Ending: The commission's recommendation will be forwarded through the city's sustainability division and city manager's office to Lowell's state delegation once a draft is prepared; a commissioner flagged they would reserve final support until they have the updated bill language.