Through a case study of a newly permitted ethane plant in western, PA, this project proposes to develop an expanded impact assessment framework that incorporates multiple intersecting impacts of development (social, environmental, economic, health) and temporal and scalar dimensions. The framework will help to advance nexus research by developing a decision analysis tool that simultaneously considers impacts to water, food and energy systems. The project also provides a unique opportunity to establish a longitudinal research project as the plant was only permitted in June 2016. Because the plant will rely on natural gas inputs from the Marcellus Shale, the project will also help to advance scholarship on the multi-scalar impacts of shale development.
Resulting Funding
- CAREER: Political-Industrial Ecology of Petrochemicals: Energy Metabolism, Landscapes and Governance, National Science Foundation, $484,882
- Sloan Just Energy Transitions Grant, Place-Based Just Energy Transition Framework, Sloan Foundation, $499,820
- Using Geoscientific Analysis and Community Engagement to Analyze Exposures to Potential Groundwater Contamination, HEI Energy, $250,000
Researchers
Jennifer Baka
