Boston Climate Tech: Feb 2024

MIT Energy Conference, AI in Built World, Offshore Wind Conference & more

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Feb 08, 2024

Hi all!

This is Boston Climate Tech. This newsletter is a summary of community-submitted climate tech events in the Greater Boston area coming up in the next few weeks.

Use this calendar or table view if you’d like to sort/filter or view ALL events in the future.

To submit events, use this form

Announcements

A few announcements before the event list:

2024 MIT Energy conference (March 11-12)

Purchase Tickets to the 2024 MIT Energy Conference

Want to network with energy transition leaders and top climate change activists? Purchase tickets to the 2024 MIT Energy Conference!

Unlock access to ground-breaking conference sessions, connect with our renowned speakers, and network with top cleantech startups at the 2024 MIT Energy Conference: “Short and Long: A Balanced Approach to the Energy Transition”. This year’s conference will delve into the nuances of how to balance urgent yet effective progress toward the energy transition, exploring the trade-offs and opportunities of shorter and longer-term scaling and investment.

The 2024 MIT Energy Conference will take place on March 11 and 12 at The Westin Copley Place, Boston. Stay updated on speaker announcements and agenda updates through our newsletter and website:

👉 https://www.mitenergyconference.org/

We are excited to feature high profile keynote speakers such as:

Daniel Kammen: a UC Berkeley professor and lead author for the IPCC's Climate Change 2007, a Nobel Peace Prize winning report
Yet-Ming Chiang: an MIT professor and lead researcher in the development of advanced materials for clean energy technologies
Katie Rae: the CEO and managing partner of Engine Ventures, a lead venture capital firm in the clean tech industry

And, key panels such as:

Training the Transition: Developing and sustaining a skilled workforce for the energy transition
Closing the Loop: Building the Value Chain for Recycled Batteries
Green Chemistry for Blue Skies: Scaling biotechnology and electrochemistry to decarbonize manufacturing
Offshore Wind: Winds of change in offshore landscape

Buy your ticket

Secure your spot now before tickets run out! Tickets are $299 (Virtual) and $649 (In Person), along with lower prices for student tickets.

👉 Buy tickets here: https://mit.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1914

Climate tech jobs

🔍Looking for a climate tech job? Check out ClimateTechList Jobs - a live job openings tracker with over 31,000 jobs from 1,000+ climate tech companies, covering roles of all sorts- chemical engineer, sales, software, scientist, etc. Updated daily.
ClimateTechList is the web’s most comprehensive climate tech job search tool.
Currently, there are 520 climate tech job openings in Greater Boston alone.
👉 Hiring? Reach 30,000 climate job seekers a month, free and paid job posting options here

📣 Interested in sponsoring/advertising on this newsletter (> 1,500 opens per issue)? - email me here.

Cheers,

Steven Zhang

AI in the Built World: Architecture, Civil Engg., Construction/Operations

🕑 Start time

2/8/2024 Thu 4:00 PM

🕓 End time

2/8/2024 Thu 7:00 PM

📍Location

MIT Media Lab

📍Address

75 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA 02139

📝 Notes

Join us at the MIT Media Lab for an enlightening panel discussion on "AI in the Built World: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction

🔗 Registration link

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-in-the-built-world-architecture-civil-engg-constructionoperations-tickets-807158882947?aff=oddtdtcreator?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

2024 Cleantech Open Northeast Boston Kickoff Party - Greentown Labs

🕑 Start time

2/13/2024 Tue 5:00 PM

🕓 End time

2/13/2024 Tue 7:00 PM

📍Location

Greentown Labs Somerville

📍Address

444 Somerville Ave Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 United States

📝 Notes

Since 2005, more than 70% of Cleantech Open’s reporting U.S. alumni companies are still active and have collectively raised over $2B in external funding.

Learn how the accelerator program can help you develop your cleantech venture and how to apply to the accelerator. We welcome entrepreneurs, students, investors, savvy technologists, and those interested in joining our growing cleantech community.

AGENDA

About Cleantech Open – meet the Cleantech Open Northeast team and learn about opportunities to be involved.

Alumni Lightning Talks – hear from Cleantech Open alumni about their experiences in the program.

Entrepreneur Introductions – tell us about yourself and your clean technology & business. To participate in this part of the program, please sign up when you register!

Q&A – ask your questions about the program, application process, and more.

Networking – meet people in the local ecosystem who are interested in and support Boston cleantech entrepreneurs in a wide variety of ways.

The Cleantech Open early bird application is open NOW through February 29! For more information, read The 2024 Cleantech Open Northeast 1-pager which includes application info & deadlines.

EVENT SPEAKERS

Kevin Knobloch, CEO, Greentown Labs

David Wilson, Senior Invesment Associate, MassCEC

Joe Curtatone, President, NECEC

Jung Starrett & Nick Hill, Mentor Committee Co-Chairs, Cleantech Open Northeast

🔗 Registration link

https://greentownlabs.com/event/cleantech-open-northeast-kickoff-2024/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

EBC 11th Annual New England Regional Offshore Wind Conference - Environmental Business Council of New England, Inc.

🕑 Start time

2/13/2024 Tue 9:00 AM

🕓 End time

2/13/2024 Tue 4:00 PM

📍Location

WilmerHale

📍Address

60 State StreetBoston, MA 02109

📝 Notes

The offshore wind industry continues to pick up speed with 2024 bringing us one year closer to the Biden Administration’s goal of achieving 30 Gigawatts of Offshore Wind by 2030 while protecting biodiversity and ocean co-use. Four more commercial scale offshore wind projects are now approved on the east coast bringing the total number of approved projects in the U.S. up to six, alongside the country’s offshore wind pipeline surpassing 52 GW of expected capacity across 32 active lease areas. With offshore wind energy imminently nearing grid connection, the Biden-Harris Administration released a roadmap this past year to accelerate offshore wind transmission and improve grid resilience and reliability. Amidst these nationwide advances, New England continues to be in great position for reaping the environmental, economic and social benefits of building commercial-scale offshore wind energy.

Alongside progress made towards reaching these federal goals, many New England states set or increased offshore wind goals this past year. Maryland Governor Wes Moore raised the state’s offshore wind target from 2 GW to 8.5 GW, aiming to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. Maine lawmakers passed a bill that set a state offshore wind procurement goal of 3 GW by 2040. Connecticut released its first strategic roadmap for offshore wind, outlining expansion opportunities to help achieve its state goal of 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040. In October, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut signed a first-time agreement for multi-state offshore wind procurement. The states requested that developers submit multi-state offshore wind project proposals for consideration by the soliciting parties through their respective 2024 offshore wind procurements which combine to up to 6 GW.

Active planning for new lease areas has continued in New England with a draft wind energy area identified in the Gulf of Maine. In August, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOEM released the NOI Checklist to establish threshold requirements for information to be included in construction and operations plans (COPs) before they will issue the formal Notice of Intent (NOI). It also provides a detailed set of recommendations for federal interagency engagement milestones that should occur before the NOI is issued.

Existing offshore wind leases have made considerable progress on development and construction during the past year with offshore construction beginning on multiple projects offshore New England. Offshore substations were installed both at the 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 project offshore Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and at the 132 MW South Fork Wind project offshore Rhode Island. The industry hit a milestone with South Fork achieving first power from an offshore wind turbine built for a commercial project sending electricity to the grid in December. Construction updates on existing leases will be featured at this conference.

This year’s EBC offshore wind conference is structured as a longer event to allow for more diverse presentations, more audience interaction and more networking. The program will kick off with a review of milestones and history of the U.S. offshore wind industry followed by an update from BOEM on the NOI checklist and initiatives to streamline the permitting process of offshore wind projects. We’ll hear updates from Vineyard Wind and South Fork on construction progress.

The conference will conclude with updates on port development and expansion to accommodate offshore wind followed by the ever popular “developer update” presentations! We invite you to join us in person for what promises to be an exciting and informative event.

🔗 Registration link

https://ebcne.org/event/ebc-11th-annual-new-england-regional-offshore-wind-conference/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

Climatetech Intern Fair - Greentown Labs

🕑 Start time

2/15/2024 Thu 4:00 PM

🕓 End time

2/15/2024 Thu 6:00 PM

📍Location

Greentown Labs Somerville

📍Address

444 Somerville Ave Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 United States

📝 Notes

There’s a place for everyone in climatetech! Join us to connect with cutting edge startups looking for bright and eager talent.

Calling all students and soon-to-be graduates! Please join us for our annual Intern Fair, which focuses on connecting rockstar interns directly with Greentown Labs’ network of cutting-edge climatetech startups looking for bright and eager talent.

At this internship fair, students from Boston and beyond can connect with Greentown startups and learn more about opportunities at their companies. Attendees will be able to connect in person with the startups that are not only developing climatetech solutions but building a climate workforce that is ready to harness the massive economic opportunities of the energy transition.

There’s a place for everyone in climatetech, whether they’ve previously worked in traditional energy, have experience tackling climate change, or are new to the climate and energy fields. The jobs are here. We just need you!

THE TYPES OF ROLES YOU’LL FIND AT THE FAIR:

Business Administration

Data

Engineering

Marketing

Operations

Sales

Software

And more!

You can view all job openings on our careers page here.

Stay tuned—registration coming soon!

VENUE INFORMATION

Parking is incredibly limited at Greentown Labs and we encourage attendees to consider taking advantage of public transportation. We’re a short 1-mile walk from the Harvard MBTA station down Kirkland and Washington Streets. Union Square in Somerville is also easily accessible via the #86 and #91 MBTA buses. We offer indoor bike parking on-site and the closest Bluebikes stations are at Dane St., Conway Park and Union Square.

🔗 Registration link

https://greentownlabs.com/event/climatetech-intern-fair-2024/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

Choose to Reuse - MIT Events

🕑 Start time

2/15/2024 Thu 8:00 AM

🕓 End time

2/15/2024 Thu 1:00 PM

📍Location

TSMC Lobby, Stata center

📍Address

32 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139

📝 Notes

Choose to Reuse!

Join us at Choose to Reuse in the mirror lobby of STATA!

Location: First floor of Stata by the big mirror

Time: Drop off starting at 8:00 and ending at 11:30

Pick up: begins at 11:00 and ends at 1:00

Basic info: Five items per person from 11:00-12:20. No limit after that and you are welcome to come back for more. People may drop stuff off until 12:00, so there's new stuff coming in throughout the event.

You don’t have to give to get. And, you don’t have to take back what you dropped off.

There is no charge, but an MIT ID is required to attend.

Check us out on Facebook.

What is Choose to Reuse?

For 10 years before Covid, the Working Green Committee and the Department of Facilities sponsored this monthly event during the academic year. The purpose of the event was to reduce our impact on the planet by sharing good stuff instead of buying new.

How does it work?

Beginning at 8:00AM people drop off stuff they don’t need any longer. At 11:00 we open the “doors” and invite people to take stuff for free. The event ends at 1:00.

Are there any restrictions on what to bring?

Yes. Everything should be clean and operable. Items should be light enough to be carried out easily. Food items must be unopened with an unexpired date. Opened packages are not acceptable.

Where is it?

We set up in the lobby on the first floor Stata where the big mirror is. It’s a one day only event.

What will I find at Choose to Reuse?

We’ll have books, office supplies, housewares, clothes and more. There may even be toys and stuffed animals being donated. So, stop by and see what’s waiting for you!

Have more questions?

🔗 Registration link

https://calendar.mit.edu/event/choose_to_reuse_3838?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

MIT Energy and Climate Career Fair — MIT Energy & Climate Club

🕑 Start time

2/22/2024 Thu 9:00 AM

🕓 End time

2/22/2024 Thu 9:00 AM

📝 Notes

The 2024 MIT Energy and Climate Career Fair is a unique recruiting opportunity where students interact with energy and sustainability companies from across the industry, with sectors including solar, energy storage, transportation, finance/consulting, and many more!

🔗 Registration link

https://mitec-club.org/energy-and-climate-career-fair?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

Introduction to the Activate Fellowship — Activate

🕑 Start time

2/27/2024 Tue 9:00 AM

🕓 End time

2/27/2024 Tue 10:00 AM

📍Location

Virtual

📍Address

📝 Notes

Join us for an introduction to the Activate Fellowship, where you can learn more about this entrepreneurial program, the application and selection process, and to get your questions answered live by our team!

Activate transforms scientists and engineers into founders. The two-year Activate Fellowship provides early-stage science entrepreneurs with funding, technical resources, and unparalleled support from a network of scientists, engineers, technologists, and fellow entrepreneurs.

For more information about the fellowship, this year's application process and to sign up for application updates, visit https://www.activate.org/apply.

🔗 Registration link

https://www.activate.org/events-clone-1695001305415/introduction-to-the-activate-fellowship?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

ACCEL Year 2 Kickoff Event - Greentown Labs

🕑 Start time

3/6/2024 Wed 10:00 AM

🕓 End time

3/6/2024 Wed 12:00 PM

📍Location

Greentown Labs Somerville

📍Address

444 Somerville Ave Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 United States

📝 Notes

Join us to celebrate the kickoff of Year 2 of ACCEL, an accelerator program from Greentown Labs and Browning the Green Space (BGS) designed to support BIPOC-led climatetech startups. At this event, hear from innovative startups that are developing climate solutions for sectors encompassing electricity, transportation, buildings, manufacturing, agriculture, and more.

The second iteration of ACCEL follows on a successful inaugural year that featured six startups working on innovations as diverse as sneakers made from food waste, ultracapacitors built with hemp sourced from Black and Indigenous farmers, and ultra-light solar panels. Their accomplishments during the accelerator included raising equity funding, earning acceptances into additional accelerators, winning grants, executing customer discovery, and more.

Take this opportunity to network, celebrate, and build community around this incredible program and meet the Year 2 cohort, which will be announced in the coming weeks! Are you an investor or corporate leader planning to attend? We’re looking to connect our cohort of founders with resources essential to success. We welcome conversation around how you can support! Please reach out to ACCEL Program Manager, Sonali Anderson ([email protected]), for more info.

🔗 Registration link

https://greentownlabs.com/event/accel-kickoff-event-year-2/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

2024 MIT Energy Conference

🕑 Start time

3/11/2024 Mon 10:00 AM

🕓 End time

3/12/2024 Tue 10:00 PM

📍Location

Westin Copley Place Boston

🔗 Registration link

https://mitenergyconference.org/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

Climate Adaptation at the Regional Scale: From Planning to Implementation – Climate Adaptation Forum

🕑 Start time

3/15/2024 Fri 9:30 AM

🕓 End time

3/15/2024 Fri 12:30 PM

📍Location

Foley Hoag

📍Address

155 Seaport BoulevardBoston, MA 02210 United States

📝 Notes

Flooding, sea level rise, storm surge, heat, and other climate change challenges cross-cut political boundaries. Facing a crisis without set boundaries, how can communities, agencies, and non-profit organizations plan for climate change at the regional scale? Join experts from across the country to learn about different regional approaches to building climate change resilience for people and nature. Speakers will explore the benefits and challenges of bringing communities together at the watershed, coastal, and other regional scales in order to move from planning through to action.

Forum Speakers

Violeta Duncan, Principal, Duncan Núñez Consulting, LLC

Stephanie Page, Acting Director, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) – Speaker to be announced shortly.

Additional speakers to be announced shortly!

Forum Co-Chairs

Mark Costa, Senior Water Resources Engineer, VHB

Melanie Gárate, Senior Associate, Consensus Building Institute

Beth Lambert, Director, Division of Ecological Restoration, Department of Fish and Game, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Carolyn Norkiewicz, Regional Coordinator for Greater Boston, Municipal Vulnerability Program, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Registration Information

This forum will be organized in a hybrid format. Attendees have the option to attend in-person OR virtually.

🔗 Registration link

https://climateadaptationforum.org/event/climate-adaptation-at-the-regional-scale-from-planning-to-implementation/?ref=bostonclimatetech.com

Boston Climate Tech by Steven Zhang / ClimateTechList.com

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