Grantee Research Project Results
Deliberative Valuation and Integrated Modeling to Accelerate Equitable Decarbonization in New England
EPA Grant Number: R840558Title: Deliberative Valuation and Integrated Modeling to Accelerate Equitable Decarbonization in New England
Investigators: Calder, Ryan , Mavrommati, Georgia , Howarth, Richard B.
Current Investigators: Calder, Ryan , Howarth, Richard B. , Mavrommati, Georgia
Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth , University of Massachusetts - Boston
Current Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , University of Massachusetts - Boston , University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through May 13, 2025
Project Amount: $649,328
RFA: Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities. (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Early Career Awards , Endocrine Disruptors , Air , Environmental Engineering , Environmental Justice , Social Science , Watersheds
Description:
We aim to accelerate decarbonization of the electrical grid by empowering community-based environmental organizations to identify and advocate for renewable energy projects that are consistent with community values.
Objective:
We will accomplish this overall goal by (1) developing a multi-attribute screening tool for the economic, environmental, and health impacts of alternative decarbonization scenarios; (2) characterizing the relative importance of those impacts among the urban and rural communities most highly impacted by the renewable energy transition; and (3) characterizing proposed energy projects in terms of their economic, environmental, and health impacts and the relative compatibility with the values and preferences that we elicit. We will pursue these objectives using New England as a case study, in partnership with community-based environmental organizations with expert local knowledge.
Approach:
We will pursue these objectives by (1) synthesizing existing modeling tools into an integrated wrapper that can screen alternative decarbonization scenarios in terms of the various ecological, environmental, and health outcomes of interest; (2) recruiting rural and urban community members into deliberative workshops wherein we quantify relative importance of competing attributes and identify the information that is most influential in the formation of attitudes; and (3) incorporating the quantitative and qualitative information we generate into cost-benefit analyses performed on renewable energy projects under consideration for New England.
Expected Results:
The main outputs of this work will be (1) a generalizable screening tool for impacts of renewable energy projects; (2) information on preferences and values among underserved communities regarding alternative decarbonization pathways; and (3) independent, community-driven characterizations of alternative renewable energy projects. The main outcomes of this work will be (1) increased capacity for community organizations to generate independent characterizations of renewable energy projects; (2) increased credibility of (and local trust in) available information; (3) increased capacity for community organizations to identify and advocate for projects with large benefits that are consistent with community values; and (4) enhanced cost-benefit analysis tools that can explicitly value public preferences regarding competing attributes for alternative renewable energy scenarios. This project will thus identify strategies to maximize benefits of decarbonization while minimizing negative impacts and characterize community-scale decision-making and value-formation.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 3 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
renewable energy; environmental justice; computational simulations; public policyProgress and Final Reports:
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.