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Energy, Water, and Land Use: A Framework for Incorporating Science into Sustainable Regional Planning

EPA Grant Number: R833362
Title: Energy, Water, and Land Use: A Framework for Incorporating Science into Sustainable Regional Planning
Investigators: Taupier, Richard , Baker, Erin D. , Dorner, Sarah M. , Miller, Catherine
Institution: University of Massachusetts
EPA Project Officer: Bauer, Diana
Project Period: March 1, 2007 through January 31, 2010
Project Amount: $299,220
RFA: Collaborative Science And Technology Network For Sustainability (2006)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

The long-term project objective is to advance efforts to achieve local, regional and global sustainability in the Pioneer Valley region of western Massachusetts and to serve as a model that can be applied in other regions of the country. To plan for sustainable growth in the region, we will work with the 43 communities in the Pioneer Valley to incorporate sustainability considerations and scientific information into land-use and infrastructure decisions, taking into account scientific uncertainty. The specific objectives are to make the concept of sustainability easy to understand and act on by involving stakeholders and the general public in a facilitated process to both define Pioneer Valley specific indicators of sustainability and identify specific and targeted actions to achieve sustainability. We will enhance communication regarding sustainability between interested parties in the Pioneer Valley and provide a vehicle for incorporating scientific information into regional and community-based decision making.

Approach:

In order to work toward these objectives we will: 1) build on current connections at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to develop a network of decision makers and scientists; 2) develop and implement a framework to assist the region and communities to develop metrics of sustainability; 3) employ these metrics in a scientifically-sound model that relates electricity generation decisions to sustainability metrics, including uncertainty in a number of dimensions; and 4) build on this model to develop a web-based decision support tool for local decision makers to use. We will focus in particular on the impacts of electricity generation choices on land use, air and water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions and will incorporate the role of climate change in influencing these impacts. The projects will be grounded in the Pioneer Valley but will provide models and tools for other regions to build on. We envision this project as part of a larger project, in which we will develop a wide variety of integrated models that consider decisions on water, transportation, and land use more generally.

Expected Results:

Project outputs will include: 1) the sustainability network and associated web pages; 2) sustainability indicators and associated maps representing the current values of the metrics; 3) an integrated assessment model of the impacts of electricity generation alternatives on a number of attributes as defined by the metrics; and 4) the web-based interactive decision tool. The expected outcome of the project will be improved communication among stakeholders and between stakeholders and scientists; and improved decisions in terms of decision makers understanding the connection between choosing an alternative and the likely impacts of that alternative. Given that the Pioneer Valley has a demonstrated interest in environmental issues, sustainability, and environmental justice, we expect that having the tools and information to make better decisions will lead toward more sustainable decisions overall.

Supplemental Keywords:

ecosystem, planning, operations research, hydrology, public health, modeling, electricity industry, global climate, modeling, northeast, EPA region 1, , Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, environmental sustainability, green design, environmental education, land use, ecological design, economic input output, sustainable urban environment, alternative infrastructure design

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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.

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