Aly Sparks, PE

With funding available from multiple sources for qualifying materials management projects, GBB can help identify grant opportunities and efficiently/successfully navigate the grant proposal submission process. Last week, at the Federation of New York Solid Waste Conference, GBB Senior Project Manager Eugenia Manwelyan presented on how to secure federal funding for zero waste infrastructure. See her presentation below and contact her (in comments below or at emanwelyan@gbbinc.com) with comments or questions! #Funding #grants #sustainability #ThoughtLeadership

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GPI’s Ifeanyi Odigboh, PE, CFM, CPESC, will be speaking at PennTec on June 17th on Flooding Evaluation of the Route 51 Corridor. 🗓️ Communities in the South-Hills region of Pittsburgh have faced persistent flooding challenges. Ifeanyi will present a comprehensive flood mitigation approach using an integrated 1D-2D model, combined with innovative SMS-SRH2D and PCSWMM mesh creation techniques. Discover how this holistic strategy aims to evaluate alternative solutions and alleviate flooding in the area. Don’t miss this insightful session! #StormwaterManagement #FloodMitigation #Pittsburgh #EngineeringInnovation

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Dam Removal 101! Learn about the history of dams across Massachusetts’ waterways and the vital role dam removal plays in restoring ecosystems. Learn about the restoration of the Mill River in Taunton, MA: https://nature.ly/4bKuD51 #DamRemoval #RestoringRivers #TheNatureConservancy

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#SolarPower #CommunitySolarPower #DairyFarms #Vermont #KevinDavis #NorwichSolar #NickFrancis #SolarisEnergy #GreendayFinance "Two off-site community solar projects in Vermont were recently completed, built and developed by Norwich Solar, and financed by Solaris Energy and Greenday Finance. These two Vermont community solar projects will provide over 2 MWh of renewable energy annually, at a lower cost, for 6 locally run dairy farms. “We are very fortunate to work with engaged property owners to site these solar projects on underused land, enabling additional value to be unlocked for them.” said Kevin Davis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Norwich Solar, a Certified B Corp. The Vermont dairy industry itself generates over $2.2 billion annually, but increasingly thin margins are leading local farmers to seek out new ways to compete without losing use of any of their land. Community solar projects are a great solution. These community solar projects consist of two 500 kW (864 kWdc) ground-mount solar arrays on less productive land in Newbury and Jamaica, Vermont. The solar projects are designed to help reduce fixed energy costs so the farms can increase profit margins. The Jamaica site (a former gravel pit) furthers the focus on a community coming together. It lies adjacent to a neighborhood of trailer homes and response from residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Several people have come out to the site to ask questions and express general excitement for the project. The Newbury site is a previously logged hillside. “The Jamaica project, in particular, was a former gravel extraction site that posed some design and installation challenges, but the final project is quite compelling to see,” Davis said. Fellow B Corp, Solaris Energy, provided late-stage development and capital through the final completion of the projects. Investor partner, Greenday Finance took over long-term ownership and will continue to work with Solaris Energy and Norwich Solar for asset management, operations and maintenance services on both sites. “It’s a beautiful thing to see locals come together to care for a community resource – especially one that helps their fellow neighbors and local economy. It really hits the mark on what community scale solar is all about.” Noted Nick Francis, Solaris Energy’s Director of Project Development. These two projects in rural America encapsulate what community scale solar is truly about. A group of value-aligned solar partners came together to provide a local economic resource that is well-supported by the neighborhood, and developed projects that support regional renewable energy goals."

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The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is announcing "More Than $21.5 Million for Nature-Based Solutions to Lower Emissions and Sequester Carbon" SEE LINKS IN COMMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS AND WEBINAR From the NYSDEC newsletter: " More than $13 million is now available through Round 2 of the Challenge for projects that mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and reduce building emissions with a focus on providing direct benefits to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, including disadvantaged communities. Round 2 - $13 Million Now Available Through Round 2, NYSERDA is seeking proposals from private companies, research institutions, and other organizations for two challenge areas designed to address heat islands and building emissions in underserved communities: Innovations in Green Cooling for Extreme Heat - $5.5 million is available for research, development, and demonstration of tools, technologies, and strategies to increase adoption and benefits of nature-based approaches to passive cooling, prioritizing disadvantaged, heat vulnerable communities to catalyze a greater scale and effectiveness for green infrastructure across New York State. Innovations in Carbon Negative Buildings - $7.5 million is available for demonstration, introduction, and scale up of carbon negative products in New York State that support building energy efficiency. Projects will evaluate market growth potential, feasibility for local manufacturing with local raw materials, and other benefits to local communities. Applications will be accepted through August 20, 2024 by 3:00 p.m. EST. Additional details on the evaluation criteria, including requirements to describe how proposed activities support diversity, equity, and inclusion, can be found within the solicitation. An informational webinar will be held on July 23, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST to provide more details on the challenge, proposal and project requirements, and the application process. " #sustainability #newyork #dei

Case Study: Shippensburg WWTP – Monitoring waste water contaminants with OAS Shippensburg WWTP is a 3.0 MGD facility servicing the city of Shippensburg PA, and is the first plant of its kind in Pennsylvania to respond to tighter government regulations regarding the discharge levels of ammonia, phosphorous and nitrogen. The process required the control of the level of nitrates in the effluent stream based on influent flow and current levels of dissolved oxygen in the system. Furthermore, nitrate re-circulation based on flow needed to be controlled, while also monitoring the dissolved oxygen levels in each tank based on flow and existing DO levels. Read the full study and how OAS streamlined their process: https://lnkd.in/e_bwBFH #openautomationsoftware #iot #iiot #automation #industrialiot #internetofthings

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"Green infrastructure and other stormwater management practices in the U.S. are typically designed to detain, retain or filter only the first 1 to 2 inches of runoff. Individually, they can’t capture all the runoff generated during larger storms." Drexel professor Franco Montalto, PhD, writes in 'The Conversation' how communities can work together to make themselves into "sponge cities," capable of soaking up the heavier stormwater that come with climate change. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eX7SWbUq

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Save the date for April 30th! 📅 Join us in supporting James Thaon, PE, at the NJBIZ Construction and Development panel. At the event, you'll gain valuable insights on supply chain challenges and tech advancements from a Bohler expert. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best in the business. #construction #development #supplychain #techadvancements

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Steve Smailer, the director of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Water, was recently interviewed for Outdoor Delaware's newest piece, "Navigating Delaware’s Drought History: Insights into Water Management Challenges and Solutions". “There’s drought, which is lack of rain, and then there are the ramifications of that, and that’s really dependent on the land uses and the need for the water supplies in those areas”. In other words, what sort of usage pressures are placed on water systems as a result of low precipitation levels? Wilmington receiving substantially less rain than is typical is different than Marydel seeing a decrease in rainfall. Up north, most of the water supplies utilized by Delawareans go to homes and businesses, while a substantial portion below the canal is used instead for farming. Read more of his insights on drought along with other subject matter experts on Outdoor Delaware: https://lnkd.in/eZBbzNpd

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Thanks to the Asset Management Grant from The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, EP joined forces with Town of Marshfield to update their stormwater asset inventory mapping. This crucial data empowers Marshfield to make well-informed decisions on resource allocation and funding for maintenance. As a coastal community, Marshfield faces additional climate-related challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and increased flooding. Adequate funding is crucial for asset management and Marshfield must balance limited budgets with the need to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure. The secure, streamlined stormwater database combined new and old data into a cost-effective and efficient web-based dashboard, supporting the DPW’s goal to provide essential public works infrastructure and support services for the residents of Marshfield. #AssetManagement #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Infrastructure #Funding

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Interesting read.

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DRBC Sr. Water Resource Engineer Michael Thompson, P.E., presented at last week's Upper Delaware Council meeting on the DRBC's Water Audit Program. This regulatory program requires public water suppliers to annually track & report water lost in their systems and is a key component of the DRBC's comprehensive water conservation efforts. Check out this article from the Epoch Times about Thompson's presentation: https://lnkd.in/e8XQDixY More info on the Water Audit Program: https://lnkd.in/eK644d8 #DRBC #delawarebasin #watermanagement #waterresources #waterconservation #drinkingwater

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🌧️🏙️ Dive into Current Issues in New York Stormwater Management! Join 5 Qualified Speakers on May 22, 2024, 9:00 am–4:00 pm EDT for a comprehensive session. Webinar Link-->https://buff.ly/3UDUHYw Here's what's on the agenda: -Discuss updates to stormwater design manuals. -Design with the five principles of construction stormwater management. -Manage extreme precipitation and flooding through design. -Explore options for surface and subsurface stormwater detention and retention. -Add multi-functionality to stormwater solutions. -Discover innovative approaches to urban stormwater resiliency. Stay ahead in stormwater management! 🌊🏗️ #StormwaterManagement #NewYork #WebinarAlert

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Check out our team's incredible work transforming this floodplain wetland in North Central Pennsylvania! Notice the tree in the background, which witnessed it all. RES was engaged to develop and implement a Remedial Action Plan to improve the wetland hydrology and vegetative development within a failing off-site compensatory mitigation (PRM) project. Improper design and excavation had resulted in excessive ponding in the restored wetlands, failing to meet the project goals, preventing the wetland from vegetating, and negatively impacting the ecology of the abutting trout stream. Check out the progression of our work: Photo 1: In its pre-RES involvement state, the site was dominated by a large stagnant pool ringed by a monoculture of cattail. Photo 2: Geotextile coffer dams at work, keeping the area dry as our team leveled the floodplain. Photo 3: Jute erosion control matting in place, with grasses from the erosion control seed mix starting to sprout and several new native tree and shrub plantings. Photo 4: Native vegetation and shrubs thriving, showing the site is on a successful path to complete floodplain restoration. Awesome work team! #WeAreRES #transformationTuesday #wetlands

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📢 Final Reminder 🌟 TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to register for the prestigious "Best Places to Work in Maine" program! Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to transform your organization and reap the rewards of being recognized among the best of the best. To learn more and to register TODAY, May 24, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com. By participating in this program, you unlock a multitude of benefits that are essential for success in today's competitive landscape: 🌟 Attract top talent in a competitive market: Gain a powerful edge in the talent market by showcasing your organization as one of the best places to work. Attract exceptional candidates who are seeking an environment where they can thrive, contribute, and grow. 🌟 Keep a pulse on employee satisfaction: Understand the needs, preferences, and aspirations of your employees to continuously improve your workplace culture. Gain invaluable insights that help you create an environment where everyone can flourish. 🌟 Boost productivity and retention: Elevate employee engagement and motivation, leading to increased productivity and innovation. Build a strong connection with your workforce, fostering loyalty and reducing turnover. The clock is ticking, and the registration deadline is fast approaching. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a transformative impact on your organization. Register now for the "Best Places to Work in Maine" program and position your company as a beacon of excellence, attracting top talent, nurturing a thriving culture, and achieving unparalleled success. To register on or by May 24, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com. Join us and @BestCompaniesGroup on this remarkable journey to create a workplace where dreams become reality. #BestPlacesToWork #TalentAttraction #WorkplaceCulture #Productivity #EmployeeRetention #SuccessInnovation #FinalReminder  

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OMNI is delighted to share the completion of an Opioid Abatement Strengths and Needs Assessment process with the City of Suffolk in Virginia! This three-phased process involved, first, conducting a comprehensive landscape analysis, compiling secondary data sources, and fostering relationships with key stakeholders across Suffolk. In the second phase of this work, we engaged in primary data collection through surveys and interviews with service providers and community members, obtaining crucial insights into prevailing challenges and needs. The culmination of our efforts led to the synthesis of primary and secondary data in Phase 3, resulting in the development of a detailed assessment report and executive summary. This highly-involved process, which sought input from City representatives and partners throughout, means that we developed more than a mere report—we developed something that might guide positive change in communities everywhere! By gaining a nuanced understanding of the community's needs in Suffolk, we pave the way for targeted interventions and collective progress toward alleviating the consequences of opioid use. Heartfelt thanks to all contributors and participants for their time and effort. Stay tuned for updates on how we plan to leverage these insights for meaningful impact. Access the report here: https://lnkd.in/gxZYhg7E.

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Key Takeaways from the SNJDC’s 28th Annual Construction Forecast 🏗️ Exciting Developments: The Southern New Jersey Development Council’s 28th Annual Construction Forecast unveiled a plethora of upcoming construction projects across the southern eight-county region. This year’s focus is on innovation and sustainability, setting a new benchmark for the industry. 🔍 Insightful Panels: A panel of state agency experts and business representatives provided valuable insights, highlighting the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors for regional growth. 💼 Economic Impact: The forecast emphasized the significant economic opportunities these projects will bring, including job creation and potential contracts up for bid. 📈 Regional Growth: The SNJDC’s commitment to serving as Southern New Jersey’s “Unified Voice for Progress” shines through, with a clear strategy to bolster the region’s development trajectory. 🤝 Community Engagement: The event also stressed the importance of community involvement in shaping a prosperous future for Southern New Jersey. Let’s embrace these opportunities and contribute to our region’s vibrant future! #ConstructionForecast #SNJDC #EconomicDevelopment #NewJersey

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The first phase of NEFF’s climate-smart forestry incentive program for commercial landowners is underway, with our team soliciting proposals from landowners interested in implementing climate-smart practices as part of a Design Phase of the program. Reminder: Proposals are due June 7! #climate #newengland #forestry #usda #climatechange #forests #climatechangemitigation

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