Multiscale Modeling and Policy Strategies for Enhancing Sustainability and Resilience in Energy and Environmental Systems
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The contemporary world is grappling with a range of interconnected challenges, including climate change, pollution, and ecological degradation. To address the complex interplay between environmental and physical systems, the concept of the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus has gained prominence. This conceptual framework captures the interdependencies across different scales of time and space, offering a holistic approach to manage and reconcile the synergies and trade-offs that emerge from human impacts on ecosystems. Despite the potential of the FEW nexus to provide an integrated perspective, many sectors still operate largely in isolation, maintaining a narrow, sector-specific focus. The energy sector, particularly in the context of regional energy planning, continues to dominate high-level policy agendas, where the emphasis remains on balancing electricity supply and demand and ensuring the reliability of energy systems. However, a significant transformation is underway in the energy landscape. Policymakers and industry stakeholders are increasingly shifting away from traditional, centralized fossil fuel-based power generation models toward more decentralized and decarbonized energy systems. This shift is fostering the growth of community energy projects, which are becoming vital to improving local energy autonomy and driving the modernization of the electrical grid. As this transition progresses, there is an urgent need for more integrated policy approaches that reflect the interconnected realities of the FEW nexus, facilitating a more sustainable and resilient future. Taking into account the interconnected dynamics of the FEW nexus, regional energy planning, and community energy initiatives, this dissertation seeks to explore the following questions: How are resource allocation and energy distribution impacted by environmental changes, considering various types of regulatory mandates? What are the socioeconomic characteristics related to the promotion of renewable energy in the transportation sector? What are the local and national implications of federal policies aimed at integrating more renewable energy into regional energy systems? What role do targeted investments and regulatory mandates play in enhancing the resilience of power generation systems?
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