Salem authorizes BlueWave solar contracts for income-eligible residents
Salem backs BlueWave solar deal for income-eligible residents; confirms three appointees. The City Council voted 10-0 (1 absent) to authorize the Mayor to execute 20-year contracts with Boston-based solar developer BlueWave and establish a revolving fund collecting incentive payments to reimburse
City Council · Meeting of April 23, 2026
Salem backs BlueWave solar deal for income-eligible residents; confirms three appointees. The City Council voted 10-0 (1 absent) to authorize the Mayor to execute 20-year contracts with Boston-based solar developer BlueWave and establish a revolving fund collecting incentive payments to reimburse income-eligible residents' supply rate discounts through Salem Power Choice and National Grid, potentially making Salem among the first Massachusetts municipalities to offer such a program. Director of Sustainability and Resiliency Neal Duffy described automatic discounts for qualified residents enrolled in the municipal aggregation program.
The council also confirmed Sean Lunde to the Board of Health, Leigh Chandler to the Sustainability, Energy and Resiliency Committee, and Gina Flynn to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board—all votes 10-0-1 with terms expiring 2027-2029—and authorized five-year transportation contracts with Healey Bus, Inc. of Swampscott and NRT Bus, Inc. of Chelmsford for student services.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 537 words
Source: the City Council meeting of April 23, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
Members read the rest of this story and every Salem meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this brief
Know someone in Salem who follows town government? Share Townbrief Salem: they can sign up free.