Public Acceptance and Governance in Energy Policy
We held a conversation about conflicts and consensus building around energy policy decisions and infrastructure projects, including solar and wind energy production projects, pipelines, and transmission lines. Panelists from around the country shared their recent research and policy expertise. The recording is available here.
Panelists
- Dr. Elizabeth Wilson (Moderator) is a Professor of Environmental Studies and the inaugural Director of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth. She studies how energy systems are changing in the face of new technologies and new societal pressures, and has recently examined how energy policy stakeholders view the opportunities and challenges of creating smart grids and decision making within Regional Transmission Organizations.
- Dr. Tanya Heikkila is a Professor at University of Colorado, Denver, where she studies what types of institutions support collaboration, learning and conflict resolution. She is currently working on a pilot study that will analyze cases of policy conflict and concord among key stakeholders related to the siting of energy infrastructure, including solar and wind energy production projects, pipelines, and transmission lines.
- Dr. David Konisky is a Professor at Indiana University, where his research focuses on U.S. environmental and energy policy, with particular emphasis on regulation, federalism and state politics, public opinion, and environmental justice. He is conducting public perception surveys and public finance research on the siting of energy infrastructure.
- Kate Konschnik is a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law School. Her work focuses on options for public electric utility regulation and electricity market reforms given emerging technologies and de-carbonization goals. She is currently working on a multidisciplinary research collaboration studying how the rules of regional transmission organizations and independent systems operators can help or hinder change.
- Amanda Ormond is a director at the Western Grid Group, where she covers the Southwest and participates in SWAT and its subgroups that deal with renewable energy transmission planning; such as the Renewable Transmission Task Force. Prior to starting her consulting firm Amanda served as Director of the Arizona Energy Office for seven years where she was responsible for developing state policy and promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fueled vehicles.
This webinar is co-sponsored by Policy Integrity and the Environmental Defense Fund, and is part of an ongoing series highlighting research funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in the electricity transmission and distribution space. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
