This research aims to develop a framework for establishing risk-averse offshore energy portfolios and assess their techno-economic potential in conjunction with the U.S. Eastern interconnection energy system. It focuses on the resource variability of marine energy (ME) resources (wave, ocean current and tidal), the hurricane risks, and environmental factors. The option to co-locate ME technologies will be considered��to potentially stabilize generation output and share costs of the infrastructure. For example, integrated wind and ME devices can potentially increase the energy yield per unit area of marine space and thereby contribute to optimal use of available natural resources. Because ME technologies are in early stages of development, little is known about risks associated with their deployment, especially integrated with interconnected energy grids and under extreme events. The importance of considering resource variability and hurricane risks into ME systems planning and operations is underlined, alongside strategies for robust portfolios supporting the broader power grid. We also aim to address environmental risks and conflicts at ME projects siting stage, involving geospatial analysis of protected habitats, productive areas, and high biomass catch areas. Feedback on environmental impact geospatial data will be sought from coastal stakeholders. The development of the proposed tool, data, and analysis would be beneficial for energy planners, utilities, and policymakers involved with the renewable energy sector. Findings from this research will inform strategies for leveraging ME resources to stimulate the blue economy and support society decarbonization goals.

Given reducing the uncertainty in sub-seasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) hydroclimate is critical, a coordinated effort by bringing together various partners to reduce the climate vulnerability through S2S hydroclimatic forecasts could significantly improve the socio-economic welfare of various communities. Towards this, the project team proposes several mixed-method approaches that focuses on seven identified tasks that include several workshops, short courses and webinars to coordinate various agencies efforts to improve climate applications in these several countries.

Transboundary pest and disease threats (TPDTs) emergence is driven by deforestation, climate change, urbanization, and international trade. Over one billion people enter the US annually, and the country imports food from over 250,000 foreign establishments across 180 nations. About 20% of fruits and vegetables and 80% of seafood consumed in the US are imported. This international movement increases the risk of TPDTs, which threaten US health, trade, and security. Challenges to US Biosecurity Customs and Border Protection Agricultural Specialists (CBPAS) and USDA-APHIS are responsible for protecting US borders against TPDTs. Each year, 2,480 agricultural specialists inspect 29 million containers, 708 million passengers, and billions of bags at 192 ports of entry. Despite intercepting 352 pests and 4,370 quarantine materials daily, current inspection tools are limited. Agencies rely on risk-based sampling, ship manifests, and visual inspections, covering only 2���6% of all cargo. Consequently, TPDTs often go undetected, posing risks exacerbated by global trade, climate change, and potential bioterrorism. Such events could devastate agriculture, cause human disease, and lead to food shortages, price spikes, and economic impacts. Target Customer and Market Need CTRAS addresses these gaps by providing advanced biosurveillance and risk-analysis solutions for agencies like DHS, USDA, and CBP. Its future applications extend to business-tobusiness(B2B) markets, including insurance companies, supply chain managers, and global logistics providers seeking proactive risk management. Technology and Problem Solved CTRAS uses AI, genomic monitoring, and predictive analytics for real-time detection and intervention, protecting agriculture, food systems, and public health. By safeguarding critical sectors like NC���s $111 billion agriculture industry, CTRAS mitigates economic losses, enhances food security, and fortifies biosecurity.

The United States is in the middle of an escalating public health and national security crisis, with the infiltration of illicit drugs across its borders leading to a catastrophic rise in overdose deaths. Current statistics deliver a sobering narrative: each year, tens of thousands of Americans fall victim to overdoses, a toll that the proliferation of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl has exacerbated this trend. Fentanyl's impact is especially alarming, with fatalities soaring to 110,000 in 2023. Fentanyl's potency���up to 100 times that of morphine���is associated with 60% of the surge in drug fatalities in the country. However, this is not the only drug. Cocaine overdose-related deaths remain substantial. A recent study revealed a 22% surge in cocaine-related overdose deaths and a 33% increase in fatalities involving psychostimulants from 2020 to 2021. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stands as a crucial defender in the nation's ongoing struggle against the tide of illegal drugs. CBP officials intercepted an unprecedented 27,000 pounds of this synthetic opioid in 2023. This number represents a sharp increase from the 14,000 pounds confiscated the previous year and close to a threefold jump from the 11,000 pounds seized in 2021. In addition to fentanyl, CBP reported seizing over 40 tons of cocaine in 2023, positioning it as the third most frequently seized drug after marijuana and methamphetamines. Despite the interdiction efforts, drug trafficking is an important source of income to Transnational Organized Crime Groups (TOCGs), and the reason for the violence, displacement of millions of people and armed conflict in many regions of the world. But is not the only illicit activity of these criminal networks. Driven by global demand for a wide array of wildlife products, including bushmeat, exotic pets, and ingredients for traditional medicines, TOCGs are expanding their illicit operations beyond narcotics. Wildlife trafficking, which now includes the illegal trade of fish and timber, has emerged as the fourth largest global illicit trade, following closely behind drugs, human trafficking, and counterfeit products. This illicit wildlife trade is valued between $7.8 billion and $10 billion annually, while the illegal timber market is estimated to reach up to $7 billion each year. A notable example of the complex web of illicit trade includes Mexican drug cartels, which have been reported to trade sea cucumbers with Asian triads in exchange for precursors to manufacture fentanyl, underscoring the intricate links between different forms of illegal trade. However, the ramifications of wildlife trafficking extend far beyond economic loss, posing grave threats to human health and the planet's biodiversity, particularly through the spread of invasive species and zoonotic diseases. TOCGs have become increasingly sophisticated, outpacing the capabilities of current institutions, traditional investigative methodologies, and judicial frameworks. These transnational criminal networks have adeptly leveraged the complexities of global agricultural supply chains, particularly exploiting the vast quantities of cargo entering through maritime, air, and land ports. The effectiveness of this smuggling tactic is underscored by a more than 30% increase in narcotic seizures from agricultural shipments in the past year. This highlighting the critical challenge of detecting illicit activities amidst the vast flow of legitimate trade. The U.S. which imports 60% of its fresh vegetables from over 125 countries, with a significant majority originating from Central and South America���77% from Mexico alone in 2020���faces a unique vulnerability. While the U.S. imports tens of thousands of shipping containers filled with agricultural products, only a fraction, approximately 2%, of these containers are subjected to comprehensive inspections. This gap in oversight has provided TOCGs with a lucrative opportunity to smuggle narcotics, notably fentanyl, and cocaine, hidden within shipments of bananas, avocados, and other pro

The FREEDM Center is developing critical smart grid technologies that can enable the large scale deployment of renewables on the electricity distribution network. The purpose of this project is to assemble estimates of costs and benefits for FREEDM components in order to refine the cost-benefit model developed last year.