Rowan University has been awarded a grant of nearly $350,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist businesses in adopting pollution prevention practices. The initiative is part of a broader effort under the Investing in America Agenda.
The university's project will focus on reducing specialty chemicals with high global warming potential, commonly used in the electric power industry and microelectronics processing. Rowan University aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, material consumption, hazardous waste production, and costs through this project. The goal is to create greener facilities that can serve as models for other industries.
Rowan University plans to collaborate with one of the largest domestic providers of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which is used by electric utilities. They will also work with the Electric Power Research Institute to build on previous research efforts.
“Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, EPA has provided unprecedented support for innovative approaches that prevent pollution and protect the environment,” said Jennie Romer from the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The primary target for Rowan University's work will be fluorinated compounds such as SF6, C2F6, CHF3, and C4F8 related to their industrial partner's operations. They plan to engage with a local electric utility and a chemical manufacturer holding about 10% market share in this sector.
The project aims at broad pollution prevention goals like reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use while decreasing material use and hazardous waste production. Rowan’s technical assistance will focus on processing these chemicals and exploring alternatives.
Nationwide, 48 selectees have been announced by EPA to receive nearly $19 million collectively in grants aimed at supporting businesses' adoption of pollution prevention practices across states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories. This funding comes partly from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Pollution prevention involves reducing or eliminating pollution at its source before recycling or disposal processes begin. These practices help businesses cut costs while protecting communities from toxic exposure and conserving resources.
Between 2011-2022, EPA's Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million resulting in significant environmental benefits including energy savings equivalent to 31.9 billion kWh and elimination of 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases among others.
Once all legal requirements are met, funds will be awarded allowing grantees like Rowan University to document P2 best practices for wider replication. Each grantee will develop case studies on new or less-known P2 practices during their grant period.
Grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are fully funded upon award up to $350,000 each without cost-sharing requirements unlike traditional P2 grants which require a fifty percent match over two years.
These initiatives align with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming for disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by pollution to benefit from federal investments significantly.
