Renew UMass: Our Energy Transition Story
Darci Maresca, Umass Amherst
Ted Mendoza, UMass Amherst
In line with the State’s Executive Order to transform all state-owned buildings to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, UMass is proposing a vision of campus operating free of fossil fuels. We will discuss our roadmap to net zero – what it takes, who is involved, what challenges and opportunities are presented to us in this once-in-a-generation transition. UMass is at the launching off point; this interactive breakout session will be an opportunity to pool our ideas and experiences for the collective benefit of both this project and the attendees.
About Darci
Darci Connor Maresca is the Assistant Director for the School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) at UMass Amherst. For more than two decades, Maresca has worked at the intersection of science, policy, and people for relevant environmental issues, specializing in strategic planning and collaborative initiatives. Her work has taken her across the country with projects ranging from open space planning, an award-winning coastal resilience program, stakeholder-driven policy implementation, public-private partnerships, and center-level research collaborations. Deeply committed to progress, a focus of Maresca’s career has been examining complex societal challenges and developing practicable solutions through an inclusive, cross-interest approach. At UMass Amherst, she is responsible for curating the long-term goals for the School of Earth & Sustainability and providing leadership capacity for transdisciplinary initiatives and programs. This work includes partnering with key stakeholders, alumni, and workforce leaders. Currently, she sits on the Carbon Mitigation Project (CMP) Master Planning Team and serves as the lead for the Living Lab Sub-Team.
About Ted
Since 2012, Ted Mendoza has been a Capital Project Manager for UMass Amherst’s Design & Construction Management Department. With almost 30 years of experience in the Construction, Communications, and Energy industries, he brings a unique and practical blend of expertise and engineering for a diversity of capital projects. His design and construction experience with the triad of energy efficiency, network technology and mechanical systems allows him to understand the complex balance of different systems and help transform buildings into intelligent structures. Mendoza is currently leading efforts to transform UMass Amherst into a carbon neutrally operated campus.