UOG Sea Grant receives $200K for ocean renewable energy research and community engagement
UOG Sea Grant receives $200K for ocean renewable energy research and community engagement
UOG Sea Grant receives $200K for ocean renewable energy research and community engagement
8/25/2023
The 91快播 Sea Grant has secured a $200,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 National Sea Grant College Program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Water Power Technologies Office. The funding will generate insights and facilitate engagement in the development of ocean renewable energy for the island.
"This grant empowers our researchers at the 91快播 to play key roles in finding renewable energy sources for our island and reducing our need for fossil fuels in our power plants," said UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez.
"Any step that brings us closer to using more renewable energy sources is a positive move for our island and our planet.鈥� 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
At the heart of the grant is "Understanding Community Perception Around Ocean Renewable Energy," a community-wide online survey that is designed to gather responses from coastal communities regarding ocean renewable energy.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
The project is anticipated to start in the fall of 2023.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
鈥淭he outcomes of this survey will serve as a cornerstone in shaping Guam鈥檚 renewable energy strategy鈥攁n integral step towards a more resilient, cleaner energy future for the island,鈥� said Austin Shelton, Director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, and principal investigator of the project.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
An advisory board composed of energy leaders from Guam and stakeholders will play a pivotal role in survey design, question pre-screening, and suggestions for improvement. The results of this extensive community consultation on ocean energy will be compiled into a comprehensive report.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Francis Dalisay, associate professor of communication and media and co-principal investigator, described the process as a significant formative research endeavor that will generate key insights regarding鈥疓uam residents' attitudes and perceptions toward renewable ocean energy.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Dalisay added, 鈥淥ther communities around the world have begun to harness energy from the sea,鈥痑nd since we live on an island surrounded by water,鈥痠t would be useful to know where Guam residents stand when it comes to ocean energy.鈥濃���&苍产蝉辫;
"It is essential to empower these communities in identifying, planning, and developing local clean energy resources that align with their long-term needs,鈥� 鈥痵aid National Sea Grant Office Program Director Jonathan Pennock, in a release following the announcement of the project.鈥�