University of Maine Selected for $1+ Million EPA Research Grant to Address Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities
BOSTON —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that University of Maine, in Orono, Maine, has been selected to receive a $1,125,000 grant funding research to address the drivers and environmental impacts of energy transitions in underserved and Tribal communities. The University of Maine Orono was one of only 11 institutions selected nationwide to share in $11 million for this initiative.
In this program, University of Maine will engage with indigenous, rural, and low-income communities in Maine to understand the role of statewide Local Energy Action Networks (LEANs) in supporting and advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption.
"Addressing climate change and ensuring that historically disadvantaged communities are not overlooked as we transition to a clean energy economy is a major priority for EPA," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This research will help EPA and other entities to better understand how transitioning toward clean energy systems may impact communities, and can help pave the way to a just and equitable energy future."
"We are excited about the EPA's support for community-engaged research, which will allow us to co-develop sustainable energy knowledge and solutions with indigenous Wabanaki tribes and rural, remote Maine communities," said Sharon Klein, Project Lead and Associate Professor of Economics with the University of Maine. "We look forward to continued collaboration with multiple state and local entities to leverage the great work of the Maine Community Resilience Partnership in the pilot Maine Local Energy Action Network that is at the core of our state-level study."
"We are very excited to partner with communities across Maine to examine the benefits, challenges and effectiveness of statewide local energy action networks (LEANs) in supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption," said Caroline Noblet, UMaine Associate Professor of Economics, who is partnering with Klein on the project. "We look forward to examining community engagement across national, state and community scales to understand the decision drivers for sustainable energy adoption."
Background
Energy and transportation systems are rapidly shifting away from fossil-based energy systems. These changes will help mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The evolving energy and transportation systems provide both challenges as well as opportunities to improve environmental and public health in ways that also reduce inequities such as environmental health burdens.
This EPA-funded research will increase understanding of the environmental impacts of shifting energy and transportation systems on underserved and Tribal communities as well as what drives decisions to adopt renewable energy sources, energy efficient technologies, and new transportation options. Grantees will engage with communities and Tribes in these projects, learning from their lived experience and expertise to better respond to community needs. These efforts will improve the scientific foundation for the design of robust, behaviorally informed policies and programs to support the sustainable transition to renewable and low-carbon energy systems.
More information about the University of Maine grant and other funded grant recipients.