Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) partnered with Tufts University to present on the state of Salem’s wind port. Two student researchers presented their research findings on wind port electrification and public power within offshore wind.
By MIa Amaral
On January 14th, Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) partnered with Tufts University to present on the state of Salem’s wind port. Two student researchers, Sebastian Barajas Ortiz and Bridget Moynihan, presented their research findings on wind port electrification and public power within offshore wind. This event was recorded by Salem Access TV and is out on our YouTube channel.
Joseph St. Pierre, the manager of Crowley-Salem Offshore Wind Terminal, opened the discussion by describing the work involved in creating the discussion package and business plan to build the offshore wind terminal. Daniel Collins, the Offshore Wind Project Manager, discussed how key federal agencies have been restructured, changing the projection of offshore wind development and renewable energy as a whole, and affirmed the City’s commitment to seeing this project through. Projects that were on the brink of construction, such as Salem’s were put on hold. Dr. Dayna L. Cunningham, the Dean of Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, welcomed everyone and introduced Sebastian and Bridget. She emphasized the importance of welcoming young people into communities and the incredible value this can bring when centering advocacy and community power. Carlos E. Avila, the Environmental Community Engagement Director of Environmental League of Massachusetts, moderated the conversation and brought years of experience in community involvement and clean energy.
Ortiz’s presentation begins with an overview of the Salem Harbor Power Station, which operated from 1951 to 2014 as a coal-fired power plant, then was reconfigured into a combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in 2018. He discusses how, while the new power plant has the potential to expand clean energy, the materials used to build it aren’t necessarily clean. Ortiz presents research that analyzes the negative health impacts of the Salem Harbor Power Station and of ports and goods movement in California.
To reduce these impacts, we can turn to electrification. There are two main models of electrification within power plants: electrifying vessels on the port at berth, and electrifying the equipment used on the power plant. A system called a ‘Shore Power System’ delivers electricity to the vessel. Although to use this electricity, ships have to be renovated to be able to accept the electricity.
Additionally, on-site equipment, such as cars, pickup trucks, ring cranes, forklifts, and other mechanical equipment used, can all be electrified.
Ortiz also presents a study of the electrification efforts of the Port of Long Beach. The efforts of electrification at the Port of Long Beach have seen reductions of 90% in diesel PM, 62% in NOx, and 97% in SOx. Most of the electrification effort has gone to electrifying the on-site equipment. The port has been awarded $643 million in grant funding as a result of its successful electrification. These grants are the major reason why electrification at this plant has become so successful. If other plants received similar levels of grant money and government backing, they too would become electrified in this successful manner.
Some key considerations Ortiz provides for Salem include early coordination with utilities, adherence to international shore power standards, alignment with regional policies, and a coordinated regional approach to enable ports to electrify efficiently.
Bridget Moynihan from Tufts University presents her research on Offshore wind and transitions from coal to natural gas. Moynihan argues that the United States is far behind in decarbonization and presents evidence that many offshore wind projects have been delayed or canceled. She presents that another major reason has to do with the availability of ports and the supply chain infrastructure. To get more offshore wind for the East Coast, more ports will need to become like the renovated Salem Harbor Power Station.
Moynihan asserts that the main solution to this problem of decarbonization is public power and public ownership. This would allow participation from residents in the decision-making process, giving them more leverage in how public entities act. This would also allow for the building to be completed at a pace that is necessary for decarbonization. States and regions would also be able to coordinate amongst themselves as to the building of public power plants. This would also allow for excess revenue to be reinvested into frontline communities.
Jordan Rogers, the North Shore Labor Council Organizer, discusses the political implications of Monyihan and Ortiz’s research. Rogers asserts that energy production and distribution are so important to consider in the here and now because the climate crisis is in the here and now. The climate crisis affects us in ways such as the federal government’s cancellation of green infrastructure projects (such as issuing stop-work orders on offshore wind terminals), as well as the ongoing invasion of Venezuela, and subsequent sale of the land to the oil industry.
Rogers advocates for the advocacy of energy independence from the billionaire class. Some ways he suggests to do that are the continued advocacy for green energy infrastructure, the continuing advocacy for electrification, the continued advocacy for public power, and strategically organizing the workers within the energy industry.
Advocacy for energy independence and decarbonization is critical, as presented by Moynihan and Ortiz in their research. It is necessary to alleviate the climate crisis and help achieve a more sustainable energy climate.
To learn more about Moynihan and Ortiz’s research, visit Tufts Digital Library to read the report Electrification of Offshore Wind Marine Terminals and Climate & Community Institute’s A Federal Offshore Wind Authority: A Public Moon Shot for Offshore Wind. Thank you to Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life for their involvement and collaboration within this project.
Mia Amaral is SAFE’s Programs Intern.