Beverly City Council authorizes green municipal aggregation, clean energy push at special meeting

BEVERLY — July 7, 2020 — Beverly City Council unanimously passed three clean energy measures and a waterfront restaurant Home Rule petition at a special July 7 meeting. The council approved Order No. 154, a renewed pathway to 100 percent municipal clean energy, Order No. 160, a green municipal aggregation resolution, and Order No. 157, formally authorizing the city to aggregate its electrical load under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 164, Section 134 — all developed jointly by the Clean Energy Advisory Committee, Mayor Michael Cahill, and the council. Clean Energy Advisory Committee member Julia Long told the council that aggregation is "one of the most impactful ways that a city can reduce the collective carbon footprint of residents and businesses," and founder Fred Hopps said the votes mark Beverly's emergence as a state leader after nearly two decades of advocacy. Mayor Cahill said the city aims to select an energy broker by the end of July and launch the program in spring 2021. The council also passed a Home Rule petition authorizing a restaurant lease at 1 Water Street, then voted it down on immediate reconsideration — a procedural maneuver City Solicitor Andrea Williams confirmed allows the city to file with the legislature the next day, ahead of the July 31 end of formal session.