Research
Energy and Environment
We strive to continue Senator Baker’s work in the areas of energy and environmental policy. Among the issues addressed are energy consumption and conservation; nuclear energy; renewable energy; air and water pollution; ecosystem services; and climate change. The Center studies the interaction of energy and the environment to develop economically-sound policies that improve the quality of life of the world’s citizens.
Mission: To address critical energy and environmental challenges by creating policy relevant research and educational opportunities that integrate natural, physical, and social science.
Vision: Sustainable energy, healthy environments and prosperous communities.
Program Director:
Dr. Charles Sims
Phone: 865-974-3865
Email: cbsims@utk.edu
Energy and Environment Policy Experts
Charles Sims
Dr. Sims is the Director of the Energy & Environment Program at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center…
Paul Armsworth
Dr. Armsworth researches the ways ecology and socioeconomic sciences can be integrated more effectively to inform conservation strategies and…
Seong-Hoon Cho
Dr. Cho’s research focuses on land conservation strategies for protection of ecosystem services. He is particularly interested in exploring optimal…
Mary English
Dr. English’s expertise lies in Energy and Environmental Policy Issues, Mechanisms for Involving Stakeholders in Public Policy Decisions…
David L. Greene
Dr. Greene is currently on assignment as advisor on Corporate Average Fuel Economy to the Administrator of the…
Lorna A. Greening
Dr. Greening, an economic consultant, has focused on economies of energy and natural resources, greenhouse gas mitigation and regulation policies…
Jamie A. Greig
Dr. Greig’s research focus lies in broadband communications and digital information technology in rural and agricultural settings…
Joseph Hoagland
Joe Hoagland is TVA’s designated federal officer for both the Regional Energy Resource Council and the Regional Resource Stewardship Council…
J. Scott Holladay
Dr. Holladay’s research interests include environmental, energy, and international economics…
Jacob LaRiviere
Dr. LaRiviere is a Director of Economics and Data Science at Amazon working to help customers to find the right sellers…
David McCollum
Dr. McCollum is a Senior R&D Staff in the Mobility and Energy Transitions Analysis (META) Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory…
John Nolt
Dr. John Nolt is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at the University of Tennessee and a Research Fellow in the Energy…
William Park
Dr. Park’s fields of interest lie in Natural Resource Conservation and Environmental Policy Issues relating to Agriculture and Rural…
Deborah Penchoff
Dr. Deborah Penchoff currently serves as Associate Director for the UT Innovative Computing Laboratory, where she directs strategic plans for…
Robert Shelton
Robert Shelton focuses on Energy, Economic, and Technology Policy…
Bruce Tonn
Three themes run through Dr. Tonn’s research and interests: rigorous evaluation of low-income energy and other programs…
Christian Vossler
Dr. Christian Vossler is the J. Fred Holly Chair of Excellence in the Department of Economics, Haslam College of Business…
Jilleah Welch
Dr. Jilleah Welch is a Research Associate focused on Public Finance, Economics of Education, and Environmental Economics…
Energy and Environment Grants and Contracts
The program’s research has been supported by private, state, and federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts allow for faculty and fellows to engage in interdisciplinary projects that have theoretical, empirical, and practical import for scholars and policymakers on topics as wide-ranging as the extraction of rare earth elements from coal ash to the impact of invasive species like asian carp on the ecosystem and tourism.
If you are interested in a potential collaboration please contact Dr. Charles Sims, Program Director.
UTIA Subcontract USDA-AFRI 2017
Sponsor: USDA – NIFA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture
PI: Paul Armsworth
Award Period: 5/22/17 – open
Ecosystem Services in the Northern Rockies
Sponsor: USDA – Forest Service – Rocky Mountain Research Station (MRS)
PI: Charles Sims
Award Period: 7/28/16 to 6/1/21
Sloan Foundation Energy and Environment Program
Sponsor: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
PI: Charles Sims
Award Period: 1/15/19 to 1/14/21
Hazen, ERC Planning Grant
Sponsor: US – NSF – National Science Foundation
PI: Terry Hazen
Award Period: 5/30/19 – open
Causal Impacts of Coal Employment and Coal Production on Local Funding Support for Elementary and Secondary Education
Sponsor: West Virginia University (WVU)
PI: Matthew Murray
Award Period: 7/1/19 to 9/30/20
Civil Infrastructure Systems (CIS) – Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
Sponsor: Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST)
PI: Charles Sims
Award Period: 9/1/19 to 8/31/21
Assistance Designing a Used Vehicle Model for and Developing Methods to Incorporate Loss Aversion into ORNL’s MA3T Model
Sponsor: DOE – ORNL – UT-Battelle – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
PI: David Greene
Award Period: 11/4/19 to 10/31/20
To Conduct an Examination of the Economic Impact of UCOR on The State of Tennessee
Sponsor: DOE – UCOR – URS CH2M Oak Ridge LLC
PI: Matthew N Murray
Award Period: 11/4/19 to 5/11/20
Novel Molecules and Thin Film Materials Containing Radioactive Elements
Sponsor: Department of Energy – Oak Ridge National Laboratory / UT-Battelle
PI: Deborah Penchoff
Award Period: 1/1/20 to 7/31/20
Actinium Complexation (for Cancer Treatment)
Sponsor: Department of Energy – Oak Ridge National Laboratory / UT-Battelle
PI: Deborah Penchoff
Award Period: 11/1/19 to 5/31/20
State Energy Policy Council
Sponsor: State of Tennessee
PI: Matthew Murray
Award Period: 9/16/19 to 6/30/21
Novel Radioactive Materials
Sponsor: Department of Energy – Oak Ridge National Laboratory / UT-Battelle
PI: Deborah Penchoff
Award Period: 9/21/20 to 9/30/23
Enhance Energy and Environment Microeconomic Simulation Models to Better Inform Decision-Making
Sponsor: Resources for the Future, sub-award from Sloan Foundation
PI: Benjamin Leard
Award Period: 7/2/20 to 9/30/21
Calibrate and Assist with Implementation of a Used Vehicle Model for the MA3T Model
Sponsor: DOE – ORNL – UT-Battelle – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
PI: Benjamin Leard and David Greene
Award Period: 4/16/21 to 12/31/22
Speaker Series
Energy & Environment Forum
With previous support from TNSCORE and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Energy & Environment Forum has provided a place for the academic community to share their research findings from a broad set of national and international academic departments, researchers, and students with a common interest in energy and environment issues.
An interdisciplinary committee of UT faculty invites four to six speakers each semester from fields such as ecology, economics, urban planning, law, atmospheric chemistry and sociology to present on occasional Thursdays from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in the Center’s Toyota Auditorium. For more information on upcoming events visit the events calendar here.
Energy & Environment Distinguished Lecture Series
The program also supports an annual distinguished lecture. Previous lectures have been provided by individuals such as Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, US Ambassador to the United Nations, and Energy Secretary; Dr. Phil Sharp, President of Resources for the Future, ten-term Congressman (R-IN), and policy advisor; and Dr. Shalanda Baker, Deputy Director for Energy Justice in the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy and Professor of Law, Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. Check for upcoming events here.
