UMass Amherst researchers receive $6.3M for transition to more sustainable energy
A new program at UMass Amherst has been
awarded two grants totaling $6.3 million from the National Science Foundation
(NSF) to ensure that the transformation of the electric grid is sustainable and
benefits all members of society equitably.
UMass Amherst has research experts in energy
technology and climate science, as well as scholars in equity and social
justice, but these groups have rarely had a chance to collaborate. The new
interdisciplinary program, Transition to a Sustainable Energy Future, brings
these groups together to solve technical and public policy challenges that have
emerged during the green energy shift. This program will use NSF awards to
explore and develop pathways so that this transition also promotes the
socioeconomic equity of communities.
Principle investigator Matthew Lackner,
professor of mechanical engineering and associate director of the UMass Wind
Energy Center, stated, “We will create technological and policy solutions to
reimagine the electricity sector in a way that is both equitable in its impacts
on society and resilient to uncertainty in future climate trends and energy
demands.”
With the price of wind and solar-generated
electricity falling rapidly, and momentum gathering behind climate change
mitigation and green infrastructure, a future of clean electricity is just on
the horizon. COVID-19 has also created economic challenges, and some nations
are proposing massive stimulus efforts with a focus on green energy.
However, developing the technology and
reducing cost is only part of the solution. Many people are struggling to pay
their energy bills, especially socially and economically disadvantaged people. The
integration of social equity into research and training will help to ensure
that new investment in green technology and infrastructure benefits all members
of society.
The UMass Amherst team aims to gain insight
into equity issues and impacts through community-based research partnerships
with stakeholders in Holyoke and other regional Massachusetts “gateway” cities.
The team plans to hold workshops at Holyoke Community College and other sites
to involve local students and the general public.
“The U.S. is facing overlapping crises of
climate change, global pandemic and systemic inequality,” says Anna Goldstein,
director of the UMass Amherst Energy Transition Initiative. “As we move toward
a low-carbon energy system, we need to be intentional about righting the
injustices in our current energy system, while also supporting job creation and
economic recovery.”
The award is two five-year grants from the NSF
Research Traineeship (NRT) and Growing Convergence Research (GCR) programs. The
grants will support the training of 50 graduate students across 10 UMass
departments in the College of Engineering, College of Social and Behavioral
Science, College of Natural Science and College of Information and Computer
Sciences. The students will conduct research at the intersection of electricity
technology, energy economics and policy, climate science and social equity, and
will produce resilient and equity-driven innovations while developing effective
leadership and communication skills ideally suited to engage stakeholders.
