Lt. Gov. Driscoll Helps Salem State Mark Progress on Geothermal, Solar Canopy Projects

SALEM, MA — Lt. Gov. and former Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll returned to her alma mater on Tuesday to help Salem State University celebrate progress on two clean energy projects that campus and state leaders said will change how the school is heated, cooled and powered.

Driscoll joined students, faculty, staff and community partners at her alma mater for the university's "Closing the Loop" event, which marked the installation of a new geothermal loop and highlighted a new solar canopy over the College Drive parking lot.

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The geothermal project is being undertaken with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. The system will circulate low-temperature hot water and chilled water to heat and cool campus facilities, including the new addition to Meier Hall and the renovated Horace Mann Building on Salem State’s North Campus.

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources provided $3.5 million in funding for the geothermal system and solar canopy.

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"I'm proud to see my alma mater leading by example and making investments that students will see and feel across campus," Driscoll said. "This work means more efficient buildings, cleaner energy and modern infrastructure that will serve Salem State for decades. It's a great example of what we can accomplish when the state and our public colleges work together."

The event also included an invitation for attendees to sign a section of geothermal piping before it becomes part of the campus system. The geothermal loop and solar canopy together are designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, modernize campus infrastructure and improve long-term resilience.

"This geothermal loop is more than an infrastructure project— it is an investment in the future of Salem State and a tangible expression of our commitment to environmental stewardship," Salem State President John Keenan said. "Our students deserve a campus that reflects the future we are preparing them to lead."

The projects are part of broader campus and state efforts to update infrastructure and reduce environmental impact.

Salem State has already completed LED lighting upgrades across campus and a three-phase energy performance contract focused on HVAC upgrades, boiler replacements, ice rink efficiency and EMS upgrades.

The Healey administration has also proposed the BRIGHT Act, described as a $2.5 billion investment to modernize Massachusetts public higher education infrastructure while creating nearly 20,000 construction-related jobs.