Energy Environment Economy

Inside the Future of Biochar and Pyrolysis at Quonset Soil Solutions

In this episode, Hannah Morini and Matt Ursillo of Quonset Soil Solutions break down the science and potential of wood pyrolysis, a process that transforms forestry waste into renewable energy and carbon-rich biochar. From soil health and carbon sequestration to renewable power generation and emerging waste solutions, this conversation offers an accessible look at a technology that could play a major role in a cleaner future. Links from the Episode: Quonset Soil Solutions: https://qssbiochar.com/ [https://qssbiochar.com/] American Biochar Institute: https://biochar.org/usbi/ [https://biochar.org/usbi/] Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, “What is pyrolysis?”: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/wyndmoor-pa/eastern-regional-research-center/docs/biomass-pyrolysis-research-1/what-is-pyrolysis/ [https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/wyndmoor-pa/eastern-regional-research-center/docs/biomass-pyrolysis-research-1/what-is-pyrolysis/] Where to find Hannah and Matt: Hannah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-morini-100248a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-morini-100248a/] Hannah’s Professional Bio: https://green-ri.com/hannah-morini/ [https://green-ri.com/hannah-morini/] Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ursillo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ursillo/] Matt’s Professional Bio: https://green-ri.com/matt-ursillo/ [https://green-ri.com/matt-ursillo/] Where to find EBC: Webpage: https://ebcne.org/ [https://ebcne.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g]

From Tar Pits to Treasure: Reimagining Lynn Harbor Park

What does it take to transform a crumbling waterfront landfill and former manufactured gas plant into a signature public park? In this episode, the team behind Lynn Harbor Park (Aaron Clausen, Principal Planner with the City of Lynn, MA, Mason Sandell, Chief Commercial Officer with Charter, and Alasdair Cunningham, Director of Project Development with Charter) shares the decades-long journey of environmental cleanup, regulatory problem-solving, beneficial soil reuse, and public-private partnership that helped turn a neglected industrial site into a new gateway for community access, housing, and waterfront redevelopment. Links from the Episode: Lynn Harbor Park Project Page: https://lynnincommon.com/harborpark [https://lynnincommon.com/harborpark] City of Lynn – Lynn Harbor Park: https://www.lynnma.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=109810&pageId=293650 [https://www.lynnma.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=109810&pageId=293650] Massachusetts Municipal Association: “Lynn transforms landfill into waterfront park”: https://www.mma.org/lynn-transforms-landfill-into-waterfront-park/ [https://www.mma.org/lynn-transforms-landfill-into-waterfront-park/] Boston.com [http://Boston.com]: “The Lynn waterfront was a dump. Literally. But what if it became a park?”: https://www.boston.com/news/the-boston-globe/2025/09/17/the-lynn-waterfront-was-a-dump-literally-but-what-if-it-bec [https://www.boston.com/news/the-boston-globe/2025/09/17/the-lynn-waterfront-was-a-dump-literally-but-what-if-it-bec] ItemLive: “Land deal powers plan for Lynn waterfront”: https://itemlive.com/2020/07/10/land-deal-powers-plan-for-lynn-waterfront/ [https://itemlive.com/2020/07/10/land-deal-powers-plan-for-lynn-waterfront/] Where to find Aaron, Mason, and Alasdair: Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-clausen-4876b919/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-clausen-4876b919/] Mason’s Professional Page: https://charter.us/our-people/mason-sandell/ [https://charter.us/our-people/mason-sandell/] Mason’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-sandell-79613418/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-sandell-79613418/] Alasdair’s Professional Page: https://charter.us/our-people/alasdair-cunningham/ [https://charter.us/our-people/alasdair-cunningham/] Alasdair’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alasdaircunningham/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alasdaircunningham/] Where to find EBC: Webpage: https://ebcne.org/ [https://ebcne.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g]

A Cleaner Future for Portland’s Working Waterfront

This episode unpacks the decades-long effort to dredge Portland Harbor while confronting the legacy of contaminated industrial sediments. Bill Needelman, former Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland, Maine, and Michael Johnson, a Project Manager with Stantec, explore how collaboration between city officials, fishermen, environmental advocates, regulators, and engineers led to the creation of Maine’s first confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cell, an innovative solution that made large-scale harbor restoration possible. Links from the Episode: City of Portland, Maine, “CAD Cell Project”: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/345/CAD-Cell-Project [https://www.portlandmaine.gov/345/CAD-Cell-Project] Portland Harbor Commission: https://portlandharbor.org/revitalization-project [https://portlandharbor.org/revitalization-project] Friends of Casco Bay, “What the Portland Harbor Dredge Means for Casco Bay”: https://www.cascobay.org/what-the-portland-harbor-dredge-means-for-casco-bay/ [https://www.cascobay.org/what-the-portland-harbor-dredge-means-for-casco-bay/] Where to find Michael and Bill: Bill’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-needelman-00877714/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-needelman-00877714/] Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-162a86237/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-162a86237/] Where to find EBC: Webpage: https://ebcne.org/ [https://ebcne.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g]

Massachusetts’ All-of-Government Climate Strategy: Inside the Programs Driving Resilience and Decarbonization

In this first episode of EBC’s APEX Awards winner series, four Massachusetts leaders share how the Healey-Driscoll administration is advancing an all-of-government approach to climate action. From affordable housing decarbonization and embodied carbon reduction to climate-ready infrastructure and the Mass Ready Act, the conversation explores how agencies are collaborating to build a more resilient and climate-ready Commonwealth. Links from the Episode: Mass Ready Act webpage: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-ready-act [https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-ready-act] Massachusetts’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program: https://resilient.mass.gov/mvp [https://resilient.mass.gov/mvp] Massachusetts Community Climate Bank webpage: https://www.masshousing.com/mass-community-climate-bank [https://www.masshousing.com/mass-community-climate-bank] Energy Saver Home Loan Program: https://www.masshousing.com/mass-community-climate-bank/energy-saver-home-loan [https://www.masshousing.com/mass-community-climate-bank/energy-saver-home-loan] Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder: https://www.masssave.com/massachusetts-energy-savings-finder [https://www.masssave.com/massachusetts-energy-savings-finder] ResilientMass Finance Strategy: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/resilientmass-finance-strategy [https://www.mass.gov/info-details/resilientmass-finance-strategy] Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3): https://carbonleadershipforum.org/ec3-tool/ [https://carbonleadershipforum.org/ec3-tool/] Community Culvert Grant Program: https://transportationgrantcentral.mass.gov/s/program/a3Ics000001U0GYEA0/community-culvert-grant-program [https://transportationgrantcentral.mass.gov/s/program/a3Ics000001U0GYEA0/community-culvert-grant-program] HEET: https://www.heet.org/ [https://www.heet.org/] Dairyfoods.com [http://Dairyfoods.com] Case Study: “Cheese processor uses heat exchangers to increase cheese-drying capacity”: https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/94849-cheese-processor-uses-heat-exchangers-to-increase-cheese-drying-capacity [https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/94849-cheese-processor-uses-heat-exchangers-to-increase-cheese-drying-capacity] Where to find Katherine, Maggie, Adam, and Cassandra: Katherine’s EEA Information: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eea-climate-team-contact-and-staff-directory [https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eea-climate-team-contact-and-staff-directory] Press Release for Maggie’s hiring: https://www.masshousing.com/press/2024-01-03_maggie-super-church [https://www.masshousing.com/press/2024-01-03_maggie-super-church] DCAMM “Meet our Leadership Team” Page: https://www.mass.gov/lists/meet-our-leadership-team [https://www.mass.gov/lists/meet-our-leadership-team]

Two Decades in the Making: Fall River’s City Pier

For the final episode in our awards series, hear from Sarah Page, Executive Director of the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, Ken Fiola, Executive Vice President of the Bristol County Economic Development Corporation and formerly with the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, and Joe McLoughlin, Vice President with BETA Group, discussing the decades-long process of redeveloping the Senator Thomas Norton City Pier in Fall River, Massachusetts. They share the challenges and successes of transforming the pier, reimagining the site as a hub of outdoor fun for the community and economic revitalization for the riverside. Links from the Episode: EBC James D.P. Farrell Award for Brownfields-Remediation Project of the Year: https://ebcne.org/news/award/brownfields-project-of-the-year/ [https://ebcne.org/news/award/brownfields-project-of-the-year/] Information about City Pier: https://www.vivafallriver.com/senator-thomas-norton-city-pier/ [https://www.vivafallriver.com/senator-thomas-norton-city-pier/] Information about the Fall River Redevelopment Authority Board: https://fallriverma.gov/government/boards___commissions/redevelopment_authority_board.php [https://fallriverma.gov/government/boards___commissions/redevelopment_authority_board.php] Where to find Sarah, Ken, and Joe: Sarah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwpage/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwpage/] Ken’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-fiola-jr-esq-097a0442/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-fiola-jr-esq-097a0442/] Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mcloughlin-97866722/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mcloughlin-97866722/] Where to find EBC: Webpage: https://ebcne.org/ [https://ebcne.org/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g]