Northeast-Midwest Institute Presents Conservation Assessment Report To Upper Mississippi River Basin Stakeholders

The Northeast-Midwest Institute presented lead author Sridhar Vedachalam's conservation assessment report during a Water Quality Task Force Meeting hosted by the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) on September 17th in Quincy, Illinois. Dr. Vedachalam discussed findings contained in the report, as well as policy implications from conservation efforts. This Water Quality Task Force Meeting marks the second consecutive year of collaboration between the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the UMRBA, which has permitted the NEMWI to deliver its research directly to stakeholders from across the Upper Mississippi River Basin - including federal agency staff, state regulators, and local watershed groups.

The report analyzes the implementation of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in six watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin: Middle Cedar River in Iowa; Upper Macoupin Creek and Otter Lake in Illinois; the State of Minnesota with a special emphasis on Middle Cannon River; and Baraboo River and Oconomowoc River in Wisconsin. An assessment of these six projects confirms the vital role of federal funding in initiating or strengthening these collaborations across various sectors from state and local governments to educational institutions, agri-businesses, and environmental organizations.

The full conservation assessment report can be accessed here.

Study Presents Assessment on New England's Renewable Energy Goal of 80% GHG Reduction by 2050

A recent study published by the Brattle Group at the behest of the Coalition for Community Solar Access provides insight into renewable energy capacity building across the Northeast Region. To address growing concerns on climate change and energy security, all six New England states have committed to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% peak levels by 2050. The reports suggests that this ambitious goal is achievable so long as sustained commitment to the adoption of renewable energy and emerging technologies continues to ramp up from 2019-2050. 

The Brattle Group - an economic consultancy based in Washington D.C. - forecasts a doubling of electricity requirements in New England by 2050, and asserts that the current rate of renewable adoption remains insufficient. In order for the regional goals to be realized, yearly expansion of low-carbon emission power generation will have to reach 4-7 gigawatts per year. Currently, New England has added 300 megawatts per year, with a projection of 800 megawatts of additional capacity added yearly from 2020-2030. The report suggests that New England's annual energy deployments would need to be accelerated 4 to 8 fold over current projections, with the majority of new development invested in solar and offshore wind sources.

Significant hurdles remain for the ambitious regional goal. Offshore utility projects have already been met with objections from local and regional fishery agencies, citing a lack of clarity in coastal areas required for new, utility scale development projects. Additionally, increased electricity generation will require extensive transmission capacity to be built up for offshore wind, onshore wind from Maine, and hydroelectric imports from Quebec. Finally, New England's seasonal climate will pose a challenge in energy storage and efficiency, particularly during the region's peak electricity demand period - winter.

The full report and presentation can be found here.

This Week in Washington

NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation