Grantee Research Project Results
Renewable ENergy, Environmental justice, and public Wellbeing (RENEW) - Evaluating biogas transformation in Eastern NC
EPA Grant Number: R840565Title: Renewable ENergy, Environmental justice, and public Wellbeing (RENEW) - Evaluating biogas transformation in Eastern NC
Investigators: Pow Jackson, Crystal Lee , Woods, Courtney , White-Williamson, Sherri , Cho, Seung-Hyun , Redmon, Jennifer Hoponick , Kondash, AJ , Mulhern, Riley , Hoffman, Kelly
Institution: Research Triangle Institute , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Environmental Justice Community Action Network
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027
Project Amount: $1,124,999
RFA: Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities. (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Environmental Justice , Social Science , Water Quality , Air
Objective:
Waste from existing swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is a viable source of renewable energy with the potential to reduce emissions associated with climate change. However, environmental and social benefits and risks are not well characterized for large-scale swine waste-to-energy (SWE) projects. SWE has been integrated into state and federal clean energy plans; therefore, it is critical to characterize the environmental, public health, economic, and environmental justice (EJ) impacts this transition may have on surrounding communities, and drivers or challenges to its wider implementation. Using this multidisciplinary lens, our team— comprising experienced researchers, EJ advocates, and policy experts—will investigate a proposed SWE operation in eastern North Carolina (NC). We hypothesize the proposed SWE operation will improve renewable energy outputs and improve community-wide air quality but could exacerbate contamination of surface water (and groundwater over the longer term). We further hypothesize that a lack of clear data around the potential impacts to surrounding communities is driving differences in risk perception and acceptance among stakeholders.
Approach:
We will take a multidisciplinary approach to understand drivers and impacts of SWE operations in Sampson and Duplin Counties, NC. We propose to (1) use stakeholder surveys, interviews, and economic analyses to quantitatively and qualitatively assess risk perceptions, social, economic, and EJ considerations related to SWE; (2) collect air, private well water, and surface water samples before, during construction, and after completion of the planned SWE operation; (3) spatiotemporally evaluate impacts of SWE operations on air and water quality of adjacent communities, and compare SWE with other alternative energy sources; and (4) use our findings to facilitate multisectoral dialogue and educational activities related to SWE.
Expected Results:
This project will be the first to study the environmental, social, and economic impacts prior to and during a multi-farm SWE operation in an EJ community. This study will generate important environmental, social, and economic findings that will be of interest to EPA, EJ communities, and environmental health practitioners and decision-makers at local, state, and federal levels. This project aims to ensure community input and environmental health are robustly considered as SWE systems develop. Although the focus of this project is on SWE, our findings— developed from multiple social and scientific lenses—could provide insight as renewable energy transformation occurs in EJ communities throughout the U.S.
Supplemental Keywords:
exposure assessment, community-based, renewable natural gas, biogas, environmental justice, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.