The BEAT News November 28, 2012

News Headlines

Green Infrastructure Porous Pavement Project Completed in Arlington, M

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined community members and officials from Arlington, Mass. to celebrate the completion of a porous pavement parking lot at Hurd Field that will help protect water quality in a local stream.

In the summer of 2012, EPA collaborated with the Town of Arlington on a project to pave the Hurd Field parking lot and educate community members and municipal officials about the benefits of using porous pavement to improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff.  The project resurfaced a portion of the Hurd Field parking lot with porous pavement that is designed to infiltrate 100 percent of precipitation from most storms, reducing pollutants caused by stormwater to the adjacent Mill Brook.  The project was completed in early September.

“Using porous pavement is an excellent way to reduce stormwater runoff into nearby water bodies. This green infrastructure helps water to drain naturally back into the earth, filtering traces of nutrients and other contamination that can harm water quality in the environment,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator or EPA’s New England office. “We are pleased to be able to work closely with Arlington as they apply an innovative technology for stormwater control.”

“We’re very pleased with the results of this collaborative project with EPA,” said Arlington Town Manager, Adam Chapdelaine. “The lot has been updated with environmental benefits to protect the neighboring Mill Brook, providing an important step in the Town’s overall stormwater mitigation efforts.”

Hurd Field’s parking lot is adjacent to Mill Brook, an important tributary in the Mystic River Watershed. Mill Brook receives a significant amount of stormwater runoff and is on the impaired waters list for pathogens. Porous pavement allows water to infiltrate into the soil through gaps in all the layers to the groundwater, naturally filtering out pollutants such as phosphorus and pathogens.  This project also reduces the impact of flooding during storm events, eliminates the need for sanding and reduces the need for road salt in winter months.  The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) plans to install a rain garden adjacent to the lot as part of the collaborative project.

“The Mystic River Watershed Association works diligently to promote restoration of environmental conditions in the watershed to a healthy state. Polluted stormwater inputs are among the most significant challenges facing the rivers, streams and lakes of the watershed today. This pilot project will demonstrate how porous pavement can help eliminate stormwater pollution while providing a more resilient approach to stormwater flooding. The Association congratulates the Town of Arlington on its good work with thanks to the US EPA for its support of Mystic River communities,” said EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association.

EPA and the Town of Arlington plan to observe the parking lot over time to better understand the longer-term performance of porous asphalt, and to educate municipal officials and watershed groups on this technology.  Site selection, design, and asphalt mixture production and application are key components to a successful project.  Going forward, the site will require regular vacuuming as well as other maintenance to prevent the asphalt from clogging.

More information: 

–          Details on the porous pavement project in Arlington (www.epa.gov/mysticriver/porouspavementproject.html)

–          Local impacts and updates (www.arlingtonma.gov/dpwprojects)

Return to list of headlines

Increases Organics Recycling, Composting and Renewable Energy Production

The Patrick-Murray Administration issued final rules amending its solid waste and wastewater regulations, a move designed to tap the hidden energy value of food and other organic materials, and use more of that waste for renewable energy production and composting.

More than one million tons of food waste and other organic material are disposed of every year by food processors, large institutions and residential sources in Massachusetts. Approximately 100,000 tons of organics are recycled or composted each year, but the state has set a goal of diverting an additional 350,000 tons per year by 2020.

“Organics comprise about 25 percent of the solid waste we dispose of each year, and those materials take up valuable space in our landfills and incinerators and create greenhouse gases,” said Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). “When we merely discard organics, we are wasting a great opportunity to capture the economic and environmental benefits from recycling and converting this material into clean renewable energy and valuable fertilizers.”

The amended rules remove barriers to the development of certain types of recycling, composting and other cutting-edge green technologies in the Commonwealth, such as anaerobic digestion (AD), a technology that turns organic materials into a biogas that can be used for heat and electricity generation. The final rules simplify the process for obtaining a state permit for constructing these types of facilities, and for adding organic material to AD units at wastewater treatment plants. The rules also implement environmental performance standards to ensure that these facilities do not compromise public health or the environment, or cause nuisances.

The final rules will also encourage generators to separate organics from their waste stream and to recycle, compost or convert this material to energy, which will help to build a system to collect the organic materials from the generators, and encourage the construction or expansion of composting or anaerobic digestion facilities.

The increased diversion of organic materials from the waste stream will help the Commonwealth reach its goal of reducing all solid waste that is disposed of by two million tons per year by 2020. It will also increase the energy generation at AD units at wastewater treatment plants with the addition of organics, and save money for cities and towns on trash disposal and energy costs.

These rules build upon incentives that the legislature provided last summer, when it enacted an energy bill that gives electricity generated through anaerobic digestion the same financial incentives as wind and solar power, such as the ability to sell excess power back at favorable rates.

“New technologies and processes make it possible to stem the flow of solid waste into landfills and generate clean energy,” said Sen. Benjamin Downing, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “This change in regulation is a positive step toward increased implementation of these innovative green technologies in the Commonwealth.”

The new rules also complement other efforts to promote this technology, such as identifying suitable sites for AD on state land to allow state facilities to beneficially reuse food wastes at on-site digesters and receive energy back, and assisting the private sector and local governments with the development of the infrastructure for collecting organics from generators. In addition, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), a publically-funded agency dedicated to promoting clean energy technologies, funds feasibility studies and grants for AD projects across the state.

MassDEP is also working to add organic materials from large generators and institutions to the list of materials banned from disposal at landfills and incinerators by 2014, a move that would ensure a steady stream of organic materials for those who invest capital in building anaerobic digestion facilities.

Currently, there are six AD facilities now in use at wastewater treatment plants in Massachusetts. There are also a few AD units used by commercial food processors. Under the new rules, those facilities could add organics to these existing digesters to boost the biogas generation and increase the energy produced, and save money on energy costs to operate the plants.

Other facilities such as dairies, breweries, juice producers and other food manufacturing operations create a high-quality organics material stream and could take advantage of the new rules by constructing new AD facilities or by adding their materials to a wastewater treatment plant or other AD unit accepting organics. There are currently two farm-based AD units in operation: Jordan Dairy in Rutland, which digests manure generated on-site, combined with organics generated off-site; and Pine Island Farm in Sheffield, which primarily manages manure with a small quantity of dairy processing waste.

There are also 221 compost sites registered with MassDEP, 23 of which are currently approved to take in some food wastes. In addition, approximately 70 agricultural composting sites are registered with the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR).

“We look forward to continued collaboration with our sister agencies in exploring ways that agriculture can play a role in sustainable waste management and meeting our clean energy goals,” said DAR Commissioner Greg Watson.

MassDEP is working with DOER, MassCEC and DAR to provide assistance to a number of project proponents looking to divert organics to anaerobic digestion at publicly and privately owned sites across the Commonwealth. For more information on available financial and technical assistance for AD projects, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/energy/cerpanaerobicdigestion.htm

The final rules will become effective when they are published November 23, 2012 in the Massachusetts Register. The rules have been published on the MassDEP web site, and the rules and a response-to-comments document can be found here: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/regulati.htm#organics

Return to list of headlines

Newly Promulgated Solid Waste Regulations in Mass

Name & Citation of Regulation(s):

310 CMR 16.00: Regulations for Solid Waste Management Facility Site Assignment and Recycling, Composting, and Conversion Permits

310 CMR 19.000: Solid Waste Management (Definitions)

314 CMR 12.00: Operation, Maintenance, and Pretreatment Standards for Waste Water Treatment Works and Indirect Dischargers

Brief Explanation and Rationale for Changes: These amendments are designed to facilitate the development of certain types of recycling, composting, and other clean/green cutting edge technologies in the Commonwealth, such as anaerobic digestion (AD), a technology that turns organics waste into natural gas for energy, while maintaining high environmental standards for these operations. The amendments:

  • Exempt from the site assignment process certain operations that 1) handle organic or recyclable materials that have been separated from solid waste; and 2) recycle, compost or convert these materials into new products or energy.
  • Establish clear and streamlined permitting pathways for these non-solid waste operations;
  • Establish levels of MassDEP review and oversight for these operations that are commensurate with the environmental and public health issues they present; and
  • Clarify that composting and other organics management activities on Massachusetts farms that are regulated by the MA Department of Agricultural Resources will not be regulated by MassDEP.

Web Link to View Final Regulations:  For 310 CMR 16.00, 310 CMR 19.00 & 314 CMR 12.00: Building Capacity for Managing Organic Materials – November 2012, see http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/regulati.htm#organics. This version shows changes from the public comment draft, and a document that responds to all of the comments received during the public comment period.

Date of Promulgation: November 23, 2012

Return to list of headlines

Clean Energy, Dirty Money and the Election

Dirty energy companies spent hundreds of millions of dollars during this election in an attempt to thwart climate action and block our transition to clean energy. So what do the results of the 2012 election mean for clean energy and global warming?

 

Click here to RSVP for a roundtable discussion on Thursday, November 29th from 7:30pm – 9:00pm to hear from the experts about global warming, clean energy and what we can expect from Obama’s second term and the 113th Congress.

 

Dirty energy’s campaign spending deluge was unprecedented, but what effect did it actually have? And what do the 2012 election results mean for climate and energy policies?

 

Come find out! A panel of experts will discuss energy money in the election and the future of clean energy in the President’s second term. Plenty of time will be available for audience Q&A and discussion.

 

Clean Energy, Dirty Money and the Election: How Did Record-Breaking Spending by Fossil Fuel Interests Affect the Elections and What Are the Opportunities?

When: Thursday, November 29th, 7:30 -9:00 pm

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church. 121 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA (Directions)

 

Featured speakers:

  • Professor James Boyce – Director, Program on Development, Peacebuilding, and the Environment, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • Senator Ben Downing – Massachusetts State Senator, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin District.
  • Peter MacAvoy – President and Founder, ReEnergizer, Inc.
  • Rob Sargent – Energy Program Director, Environment America

 

Please click here to RSVP.

 

I hope you can join us for this important discussion.

Return to list of headlines

GE Pittsfield/Housatonic River Project Documents submitted to Repositories from Oct 14, 2012 – Nov 3, 2012

Documents submitted to the Berkshire Athenaeum

Letter from Richard Fisher (USEPA) to Richard W. Gates (GE), October 15, 2012, Re: Conditional Approval of General Electric’s August 28, 2012 submittal titled Groundwater Management Area 1, Silver Lake Removal Action Area Proposal to Decommission Monitoring Wells, GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site

Letter from Richard Fisher (USEPA) to Richard W. Gates (GE), October 15, 2012, Re: Conditional Approval of General Electric’s July 26, 2012 submittal titled Groundwater Management Area 4, Long-Term Monitoring Program Monitoring Event Evaluation Report for Spring 2012, GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), October 16, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; East Street Area 2-North (GECD140); Demolition of Buildings 9 and 10 Complex

Letter (with attachment) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Dave Dickerson (USEPA), October 17, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; Silver Lake Area (GECD600); Analytical Results for Proposed Topsoil Material

Letter from Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA) to Kevin Mooney (GE), October 11, 2012, Re: Conditional Approval of GE’s 2012 Summer Inspection Reports; Upper ½-Mile Reach of Housatonic River; GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Dave Dickerson (USEPA), October 23, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; Silver Lake Area (GECD600); Revised Evaluations for Recreational Areas RA-2, RA-3, and RA-4

Letter (with attachments) from Kevin G. Mooney (GE) to Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), October 24, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 1½-Mile Reach of Housatonic River (GECD820); 2012 Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Report

Letter (with attachment) from Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA) to Kevin Mooney (GE), October 25, 2012, Re: Spring and Summer 2012 Re-Vegetation Monitoring Reports; 1½ Mile Reach Removal Action; GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Michael Gorski (MADEP) and Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), November 1, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; Woodlawn Avenue (Part of Disposal Sites GECD120 and GECD140); Summary of Initial ERE Inspection – 2012

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Michael Gorski (MADEP) and Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), November 1, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 19s Complex (GECD140); Summary of Initial ERE Inspection for – 2012

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Michael Gorski (MADEP) and Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), November 1, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 20s Complex (GECD120); Summary of Annual ERE Inspection for 2012

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Michael Gorski (MADEP) and Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), November 1, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 30s Complex (GECD120); Summary of Annual ERE Inspection for 2012

Letter (with attachments) from Richard W. Gates (GE) to Michael Gorski (MADEP) and Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), November 1, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 40s Complex (GECD120); Summary of Annual ERE Inspection for 2012

Documents submitted to the Connecticut Repositories

Letter from Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA) to Kevin Mooney (GE), October 11, 2012, Re: Conditional Approval of GE’s 2012 Summer Inspection Reports; Upper ½-Mile Reach of Housatonic River; GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site

Letter (with attachments) from Kevin G. Mooney (GE) to Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA), October 24, 2012, Re: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site; 1½-Mile Reach of Housatonic River (GECD820); 2012 Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Report

Letter (with attachment) from Dean Tagliaferro (USEPA) to Kevin Mooney (GE), October 25, 2012, Re: Spring and Summer 2012 Re-Vegetation Monitoring Reports; 1½ Mile Reach Removal Action; GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Return to list of headlines

All About Recycling in Massachusetts

The RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program continues to move forward and, among other things, has added some new content and features to the program website – www.recyclingworksma.com.  This includes:

  • The RecyclingWorks program provides a searchable recycling/composting service provider database.  The RecyclingWorks program continues to add new listings to this database and now has added a feature for service providers to input their own information to be listed on the database.  This information is reviewed by program staff prior to posting.  Go to the bottom of this page to use this feature.
  • Several new case studies and tools have been added, including:
  • Hilton Garden Inn food waste composting program  case study
  • Link to NEWMOA Green Lodging Calculator – available on http://www.recyclingworksma.com/how-to/business-sector-guidance/hospitality/
  • Blue Man Group case study on recycling and composting

Return to list of headlines

DCR to Host Three Public Meetings to Review Six Forest Management Projects

 

WHAT:  Beginning in 2013, officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will resume forest management with commercial timber harvesting in DCR forests that have been designated as woodlands through the recently completed Forest Futures Visioning and Landscape Designation processes. DCR will host three public meetings to begin the review process for six forest management project proposals. Each of these proposals are for properties designated by DCR as woodlands.

 

These public meetings are designed to provide the public and DCR a venue in which to discuss the plans and practices for managing woodlands and provide vital feedback prior to the finalization of the proposals. Forest management will take place according to the new management guidelines endorsed by the DCR Stewardship Council in April 2012. In addition, the harvesting projects will be posted on DCR’s website for a forty-five day comment period.

 

These timber harvesting projects will demonstrate forestry best practices that will help create a multi-aged, species diverse forest habitat; enhance ecological restoration of degraded natural community types, promote uneven aged forests that are resilient to large scale natural disturbances and produce high quality and high value forest products.

The six projects are located in Freetown State Forest, Marlboro-Sudbury State Forest, Federated Women’s Clubs State Forest, Leyden State Forest, October Mountain State Forest and Sandisfield State Forest.

DCR management foresters have developed timber harvesting proposals on DCR lands designated as woodlands. These proposals will go through a transparent external review before the projects are implemented.

WHEN & WHERE:

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012

Fall River Heritage State Park

Main Building, Davol Street, Fall River.

 

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012

DCR’s John Augustus Hall

DCR Watershed Division Headquarters, 180 Beaman Street, West Boylston

 

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 6, 2012

DCR’s Pittsfield Regional Office

740 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

 

Jessica A. Rowcroft

Bureau of Planning & Resource Protection

Department of Conservation & Recreation

251 Causeway St, Suite 600

Boston, MA 02114

ph:  617.626.1380

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/planning.htm

Return to list of headlines

SepticSmart, Homeowner Care and Maintenance of Septic System

EPA has launched SepticSmart, a national program to promote proper septic system care and maintenance by homeowners. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 25 percent of U.S. households-more than 26 million homes-and almost one-third of new developments are serviced by septic systems. When properly maintained and used, these systems serve to effectively treat and dispose of wastewater. Unfortunately, septic system back-ups and overflows can lead to costly homeowner repairs and can pollute local waterways, creating a risk to public health and the environment. SepticSmart aims to educate homeowners about proper daily system use and the need for periodic septic system maintenance. SepticSmart also provides industry practitioners, local governments and community organizations with tools and materials to educate their clients and residents. To learn more, visit: http://www.epa.gov/septicsmart

Return to list of headlines

Sustainable Food and Farming online

John Gerber, UMass Sustainable Food and Farming Program Coordinator, is pleased to announce that UMass has added new online courses during the winter term to our Sustainable Food and Farming online program.  Please help us share this news with potential students who may either take classes individually or register for the 15-credit UMass Certificate Program.  For information, see:

Certificate and Online Classes in Sustainable Food and Farming

Return to list of headlines

Yestermorrow 2013 Classes

Get your first look at Yestermorrow’s Spring/Summer 2013 class schedule, now posted on our website! The new catalog will come out in January – this sneak peek gives you the opportunity to register early and assure yourself a spot in the class(es) of your choosing, including a dozen brand new classes coming up this spring and summer.

Learn to envision functional, whimsical, and artful landscape systems in Landscape Design. Bring new products, structures, or business or design concepts to reality in Idea Lab, where you’ll be led through an empowering brainstorming-through-prototyping process. Design and build your own bookcases, tables and light fixtures in a series of summer workshops. Explore a new construction material in Building with Hemp, or in the Nature of Design, learn to design ecologically after immersing yourself in the Vermont wilderness.

Need more options? How about lighting design in the Art of Illumination, or water stewardship in Water & Life. In Intro to Tadelakt, learn an ancient Moroccan fine finish plaster technique. Or push your building skills to the next level in Carpentry Techniques for a Non-Linear World. Whatever your design/build interest, we’ve got you covered, with over 120 course offerings in the coming year.

We’re now accepting registrations for all classes through October 2013! It’s easy to register online, or give us a call at 802-496-5545 and we can register you over the phone in just a few minutes.

Want to introduce a friend or loved one to Yestermorrow? We also offer gift certificates for the holidays in any amount that can be used towards tuition, meals or lodging.

Hope to see you on campus soon!

Team Yestermorrow

Return to list of headlines

Program Supports Agriculture Education

Department of Agriculture 

The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program provides support to promote and strengthen agriscience and agribusiness education. Program goals include increasing the number and diversity of students who will pursue and complete degrees in the food and agricultural sciences, and enhancing the quality of secondary and two-year postsecondary instruction. The application deadline is January 18, 2013.

Return to list of headlines

Grants to Help Build The Campus Network for a New Economy

The New Economics Institute is thrilled to announce a new nationwide project: The Campus Network, an effort to build the foundation of a student-led movement for a New Economy.

We’re starting the program with a call for proposals from college students to host strategic summits on the transition to a just and sustainable economy. We will award eight grants of up to $5,000 and provide each campus with ongoing training and support. The goal of the summits is to raise awareness about the New Economy on college campuses and build meaningful collaborations between students and their local communities.The hope is that this will catalyze a nationwide student movement and create a powerful network of young leaders committed to building the New Economy.

Will you help us spread the word? Together, we can make sure that every student interested in this work is made aware of this special opportunity. Here are three ways you can help today:

  1. Find out more about the Campus Network (and begin the application process if you’re a student!)
  2. Share this opportunity on Facebook
  3. Forward this email to a friend

The strategic summits will lead into a Summer 2013 convergence, bringing student leaders from across the nation together with other New Economy practitioners and leaders. We hope that the Campus Network is just the beginning of what will become a powerful student movement for the New Economy.

We hope you’re as excited as we are!

Rachel Plattus
Manager of Organizing and Development
New Economics Institute

Return to list of headlines

Entries Invited for 2013 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence

A program of the Bruner Foundation, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence is designed to celebrate urban places that are distinguished by quality design and their social and economic contributions to American cities. Award winners offer creative place-making solutions that transcend the boundaries between architecture, urban design, and planning, and showcase innovative thinking about the nation’s cities.

The purpose of the award is to discover places that embody design excellence inclusive of social, economic, and environmental factors. The foundation does not restrict the kinds of projects that may apply. Award winners are not selected through an established set of criteria. Rather, the criteria emerge from the selection committee discussion of the applications.

Projects must be a real place, not just a plan or a program, and be located in the forty-eight contiguous United States.

The award is given to five winning projects in each biennial award cycle. One Gold Medal of $50,000 and four Silver Medals of $10,000 will be awarded. Award winners may use prize money in any way that benefits the project.

The complete Call for Entries, the application form, and further information about the award (including a digital archive and case studies of past winners) are available at the Bruner Foundation Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Return to list of headlines

Business Development Manager—Water Innovation

Job Overview

The Business Development Manager for Water Innovation (Manager) will help bring investment and jobs into Massachusetts by fostering cooperative activities among Massachusetts organizations across the value chain in the $500 billion global water industry.  The primary goal for the Manager will be to make Massachusetts the nation-leading water technology cluster.  The Manager will initiate, promote and supporting organizational development for a Massachusetts based industry cluster focused on innovative water technologies.  Organize and promote pilot projects fostering partnerships between various water industry components.

The Manager will also assist with additional clean energy business development activities as needed.  The business development functions at MassCEC include promoting international activities and partnerships, including in particular oversight of the Massachusetts-Israeli Innovation Partnership (MIIP).

 

Job Duties

  • Organize and staff an ad-hoc industry steering committee convened by the Secretary of EOEEA in cooperation with MassCEC and provide support as necessary to help this committee:
  • Recruit potential members of a permanent steering committee or other structure and sponsors of a formal water cluster organizations;
  • Develop a sustainable organizational and financial structure relying primarily on non-governmental support;
  • Establish long-range strategy and achievable short-term objectives, and help ensure consistent and timely progress towards meeting these objectives;
  • Develop, promote, and encourage broad participation by organizations in all areas of the cluster’s work including connecting parties interested in partnership opportunities for business development, investment, research and development, collaboration, and government agreements;
  • Maintain a working knowledge of developments and trends in the field, including technology developments and financing issues for both mature industries and start ups;
  • See that the steering committee is kept fully informed on the growth of the industry cluster and all important factors influencing it;
  • Publicize the activities of the organization, its programs and goals;
  • Represent the programs and point of view of the organization to agencies, organizations, and encourage steering committee members to interact with the general public in advancing the cluster organization;
  • Administer on behalf of MassCEC participation in the MIIP and coordinate with counterparts in Israel and within Massachusetts to further the goals of MIIP.  Duties would include:
  • Develop framework for second round of the MIIP partnership;
  • Oversee and issue a solicitation for award funding, and manage the selection process for identifying awardees;
  • Administer any grants awarded including managing reporting by awardees;
  • In conjunction with MassCEC’s and Cleantech Innovations New England’s current activities surrounding testing facilities for the clean energy industry, the Manager will identify, promote, and work to increase the number of water industry testing facilities and certification programs in the region.
  • Support third-party organized events or conferences in the water industry in the region and work within MassCEC to organize appropriate events, meetings, or conferences for the benefit of the industry;
  • Perform additional tasks as may be assigned from time to time by the Director of Business Development or his/her designee;


Position Qualifications

Education

  • Undergraduate degree in technology, policy, economics, business or related field preferred;
  • MBA or relevant master’s degree preferred;

Experience

  • Familiar with the water industry, and understanding of the business development skills needed for start-up ventures (including research opportunities and financing strategies), and experience in program management;

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Demonstrated ability to provide multi-party and multi-project coordination;
  • Ability to analyze data and prepare reports;
  • Ability to work effectively and cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
  • Interest in clean energy technology and water technology, and a demonstrated aptitude to understand complex and new products, systems, innovations and business concepts as well as market opportunities and challenges;
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze both technical and non-technical information to discern trends and strategies;
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to efficiently handle ongoing administrative responsibilities;
  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems and negotiate to successful conclusions;
  • Demonstrated ability to take initiative and make informed decisions;
  • Demonstrated organizational, quantitative research and analytical skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
  • Ability to coordinate and supervise the work of others;

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is dedicated to accelerating the growth of the Massachusetts clean energy industry and making Massachusetts a global destination for the clean energy sector. With economic growth in mind, MassCEC invests in early-stage technology companies, provides incentives for the adoption of renewable energy and develops programs to prepare workers for the next generation of clean energy jobs.

 

To Apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to send a resume and cover letter via email to employment@masscec.com.

Attn: Water Cluster

Return to list of headlines

Back To Top