Energy Environment Economy

In this episode, Hannah Morini and Matt Ursillo of Quonset Soil Solutions break down the science and potential of wood pyrolysis, a process that transforms forestry waste into renewable energy and carbon-rich biochar. From soil health and carbon sequestration to renewable power generation and emerging waste solutions, this conversation offers an accessible look at a technology that could play a ma...

What does it take to transform a crumbling waterfront landfill and former manufactured gas plant into a signature public park? In this episode, the team behind Lynn Harbor Park (Aaron Clausen, Principal Planner with the City of Lynn, MA, Mason Sandell, Chief Commercial Officer with Charter, and Alasdair Cunningham, Director of Project Development with Charter) shares the decades-long journey of en...

This episode unpacks the decades-long effort to dredge Portland Harbor while confronting the legacy of contaminated industrial sediments. Bill Needelman, former Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland, Maine, and Michael Johnson, a Project Manager with Stantec, explore how collaboration between city officials, fishermen, environmental advocates, regulators, and engineers led to the creatio...

In this first episode of EBC’s APEX Awards winner series, four Massachusetts leaders share how the Healey-Driscoll administration is advancing an all-of-government approach to climate action. From affordable housing decarbonization and embodied carbon reduction to climate-ready infrastructure and the Mass Ready Act, the conversation explores how agencies are collaborating to build a more resilient...

For the final episode in our awards series, hear from Sarah Page, Executive Director of the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, Ken Fiola, Executive Vice President of the Bristol County Economic Development Corporation and formerly with the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, and Joe McLoughlin, Vice President with BETA Group, discussing the decades-long process of redeveloping the Senator Thomas...

Today’s episode dives into the efforts of the Consortium for Climate Solutions, a groundbreaking collaborative model for large-scale renewable energy procurement that recently won the EBC Nicholas Humber Award for Outstanding Collaboration. Learn about their model for bringing together eleven partner organizations to procure renewable energy through today’s discussion with members of the four lead...

Spoonfuls, New England’s largest food recovery organization, was recently awarded EBC’s Merit Award for Leadership by a Non-Profit Organization for their incredible work diverting over 40 million pounds of good food, feeding people who need it and reducing the climate impact of food in landfills. Today’s episode features Liz Miller, Senior Community Relations Manager for Spoonfuls, telling us all...

Dr. David W. Cash was recently awarded EBC’s Paul G. Keough Award for Government Leadership for his leadership in both state and federal government, shaping a more sustainable, just, and resilient future for Massachusetts and beyond. In today’s episode, David discusses his roles in government, the importance of public service, learning from failure, and his advice for those thinking about a career...

How does your local florist electrify their two delivery vans? That question may be on the mind of many small business owners, and the Mass Fleet Advisor program helps them understand the process of electrifying their fleet. Jenny Kritzler, Deputy Director for the Northeast Region at CALSTART, and Rhys Webb, a Senior Program Manager with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, join the podcast to t...

The University of Rhode Island’s STEEP Superfund Research Program is working to address the human health threat of PFAS through scientific research, translation of research findings to decision makers, and community engagement. Dr. Emily Diamond, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Marine Affairs at URI, and Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist at Silent Spring Institute, join the po...

The sun does shine in New England (even if it doesn’t always feel that way!) and residential solar plays an important role in the energy mix of the regional grid. Kevin McCollister, Founder and Co-Owner, and Jarred Cobb, General Manager, both of Catamount Solar, join the podcast to give an overview of residential solar, how it works and the role it plays in the New England energy market. Links fro...

With nearly 15,000 dams scattered across New England, some dating back to the 1600s, most are not your typical towering concrete structures like the Hoover Dam. Instead, they smaller earthen barriers hidden in the landscape, disrupting the flow of water, nutrients, sediments, fish... everything. Kristopher Houle, a Senior Project Manager with Tighe & Bond, joins the podcast to discuss the proc...

Exploring Hidden Systems Through Comics Water, energy, and internet infrastructure are hidden all around us. Joining the podcast this week, author and cartoonist Dan Nott discusses his book Hidden Systems, an illustrated guide to the unseen infrastructure behind the everyday technologies that support our way of life. Links from the Episode: Books suggested by Dan: - How Infrastructure Works: Insid...

What is vapor intrusion and what are the common management strategies? David Shea, Senior Vice President at Sanborn Head and Associates, joins the podcast to give a primer on vapor intrusion: how volatile chemicals, radon, and other vapors enter buildings, testing approaches, management strategies, and more. Links from the Episode: EPA – Contaminated Site Locations and Contact Information: https:/...

Through the evolution of telemetry technology, researchers and practitioners can track and understand wildlife movement across the globe. Joining the podcast is Thomas Gray, a Business Development Manager with Woods Hole Group, to discuss the technology and how tags and satellites work together to collect information for wildlife study and conservation. Links from the Episode: Woods Hole Group hom...

Links from the Episode: Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank: https://www.riib.org/ Press Release – Infrastructure Bank Announces $5.2 Million In Action Grants for Municipal Resilience Projects In 8 Communities Across Rhode Island: https://www.riib.org/infrastructure-bank-announces-5-2-million-in-action-grants-for-municipal-resilience-projects-in-8-communities-across-rhode-island/ Where to find Bill:...

There’s a Dirt for That! Engineered Soil and Biochar Did you know golf courses use special dirt for their greens? And green roofs benefit from special dirt that is lightweight? Through engineered soil and biochar, custom blended soils provide a variety of benefits across a variety of contexts. Join Tony Will, Director of Marketing & New Product Development at Read Custom Soils, as he explains...

Join us this Veteran’s Day in conversation with Greg Olds, a Section Lead for Safety, Health & Industrial Hygiene with Mabbett & Associates and a retired Army Captain. Greg recounts his experiences working in the environmental health and safety sector of the U.S. Army and shares how he leveraged his skills and knowledge into an EH&S career with Mabbett & Associates. In the United S...

During college move-out season, students throw away many hundreds of tons of furniture, clothes, pantry items… you name it! Boston University’s Goodwill, Not Landfill program reduces the impact of move-out season by diverting materials away from landfills. Join Sarah Healey, the University’s Zero Waste Manager, Tom Segear, Resource Manager with Casella, and James Harder, Director of Communications...

How does one define leadership opportunities? When does one say yes or no when an opportunity presents itself? In this final episode in our series highlighting EBC’s 2024 Ascending Leader winners, Kelsey Kern, a Senior Water Resources Designer with Nitsch Engineering, and Cassidy Yates, a Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Engineer with Weston & Sampson, discuss how putting yourself out the...

Finding a mentor and maintaining that relationship can be incredibly helpful throughout your career, as can being a mentor to others. This second episode in our series highlighting EBC’s 2024 Ascending Leader Award winners features Adrienne Dunk, a Project Manager with GZA GeoEnvironmental, and Michael Campinell, as Associate with the law firm of Beveridge & Diamond walking through the many fa...

The podcast is highlighting the recent recipients of EBC’s Ascending Leader Award with a three-episode series. This first episode in the series features Samatha Meserve, Director of the Renewable and Alternative Energy Division with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Kelly Siry, a Water Resources Engineer with VHB talking about goal setting. Setting and keeping professional goals...

We’re breathing in air all day every day, and at least here in the United States we probably know that there are regulations set to control the level of pollutants in our air. But what is being regulated and how? Joining the podcast is Sonja Sax, Senior Environment and Health Scientist with Epsilon Associates to give a primer on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards set by the U.S. Environmen...

Bob Hamilton started his career in coastal engineering when most people didn’t really know that work existed – these days coastal and climate are everywhere. Now President at Woods Hole Group, he’s the 2024 recipient of EBC’s Service to the Environmental Industry Award. Learn more about his career and the world of coastal engineering in today’s episode, a continuation of our series highlighting th...

Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire was a popular horse racing track for decades but over the past 20 years had fallen into disrepair. Purchased in 2016 and redeveloped into Tuscan Village, this episode highlights the collaborative work to restore the property that won the project EBC’s Outstanding Collaboration Award. Listen in as Joe Persechino and Ben Curcio of Tighe & Bond, and Leslie...