Clean Technology Assessments

Environmentally "green" manufacturing and "clean" technologies can represent dual benefits for a state -- an opportunity to reduce costs of environmental pollution and cleanup, while also enhancing income from the growth and development of "cutting edge" new manufacturing technologies and products.

The "Clean Technologies Initiative" in Massachusetts is centered at the Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. It is currently investigating the most promising new technologies in five areas -- (1) emerging materials, (2) clean energy, (3) green buildings, (4) materials reuse, and (5) safer alternatives in manufactured products.

EDR Group was asked to survey existing literature and draw from clean tech practices elsewhere to illustrate the range of benefits possible - from measurable economic impacts to environmental and social benefits. The results form a matrix of technology and benefit categories.

EDR Group also measured what the economic impacts would be if Massachusetts-based firms in Electrical Equipment Manufacturing and Computer & Electronics Manufacturing failed to comply with an EU import regulation that took effect July 2006 (the Reduction of Hazardous Substances directive-RoHS) and lost market share as a result. This case study, which can serve as a proxy for future market-dictated production/product requirements (e.g. Safer Alternatives) measured the direct effects on export jobs/wages/sales as well as the supply chain effects and the wage spending impacts for Massachusetts.