Provide funding under the inflation reduction act to massachusetts clean energy center

This $528,740 project grant, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Ports Program (CFDA 66.051), will fund the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to conduct emissions inventory and planning activities at the New Bedford Commerce Terminal. The key activities include:

Preparing an emissions inventory for the terminal, developing emissions reduction targets and strategies, assessing the feasibility of zero-emission technologies, conducting a workforce impact analysis, and engaging with port stakeholders and the local community. The expected outcomes are to develop a better understanding of current emissions, identify pathways for transitioning to a zero-emissions port, evaluate feasible technology solutions, enhance community awareness, and build partner capacity for emissions tracking and reporting. MassCEC will collaborate with GE Vernova Renewable Energy, the New Bedford Port Authority, and Vineyard Wind LLC on this project, which has an award date of January 1, 2025 and an ultimate completion date of November 1, 2026.

Description

The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the inflation reduction act to massachusetts clean energy center. Specifically, the recipient will conduct emissions inventory and accounting exercises, analyze emissions reduction strategies, plan for reducing future port emissions, engage with port stakeholders, and conduct a workforce planning analysis. Activities:the activities include preparing an emissions inventory for the new bedford commerce terminal, developing emissions targets and a strategy for emissions reductions, preparing a technological and economic feasibility assessment for zero emission technologies at the terminal, conducting a workforce impact analysis and engagement strategy, creating an air emissions community engagement strategy and air quality monitoring and communications plan, providing a stakeholder training on emissions inventories, and conducting community engagement. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include preparing an emissions inventory for the terminal, establishing emissions reduction targets, conducting feasibility studies to explore various zero-emission technologies, performing a workforce impact analysis, conducting enhanced stakeholder and community engagement, and delivering training sessions to the community and partner organizations on the emissions inventory methodology. The expected outcomes include developing a deeper understanding of current emissions to inform the emissions reduction strategy, identifying clear implementation pathways for a zero-emissions port, evaluating feasible zero-emission technology solutions and gaining insights into the impact of transitioning to these technologies, enhancing community awareness of the emissions reduction strategy, improving capabilities for tracking and reporting emissions, increasing partner capacity to conduct independent emissions inventories, and establishing greater community knowledge about terminal-related air quality management. The intended beneficiaries include massachusetts clean energy center (grantee); GE vernova renewable energy (partner), which will assist in conducting the emission inventory; the new bedford port authority (partner), which will assist in conducting cross-stakeholder workshops; and vineyard wind LLC (partner), which will assist in conducting emissions target setting, emissions strategy development, and community stakeholder collaboration. Other beneficiaries include near-port communities that are impacted by the port.