Area of Focus
As the Deputy Director of Policy Development for WRA’s Clean Energy Program, Aaron leads WRA’s efforts to develop innovative policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the deployment of clean energy technologies across the Interior West. He supervises the Transportation Electrification and Building Decarbonization teams and leads work on developing and updating program impact metrics.
Background
Originally from Missouri, Aaron has spent his professional career studying electricity systems, focusing on policies and regulations which help transition society to cleaner and more affordable energy. Prior to becoming the Deputy Director of Policy Development, Clean Energy, Aaron led WRA’s work to shape state-level transportation electrification policy as the transportation electrification manager and, before that, analyzed policies and regulations effecting emerging ‘grid-edge’ technologies as a flexible grid analyst.
Aaron also worked as a research analyst for the Washington D.C.-based World Resources Institute, where he helped lead the development of several energy data products that sought to better understand the relationship between electrical generation and its impact on the environment and economic development.
Accomplishments
While at WRA, Aaron has been instrumental in securing policy wins that accelerate the adoption of zero emission vehicles across the West. Alongside the transportation electrification team, he has secured $700 million in approved utility investments to support the EV transition. Aaron wrote, advocated for, and helped pass legislation to accelerate the purchase of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty trucks in Nevada (AB184) and a first-in-the-nation regulatory framework ensuring responsible reuse and recycling of EV batteries in Colorado (SB 26-003). He also led WRA’s efforts to establish the Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in Colorado and New Mexico, broadly considered the cornerstone of state level transportation decarbonization efforts.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geography from the University of Missouri
- Master of Arts in Global Environmental Policy from American University
Favorite thing about the West
The proximity to world class backpacking and pristine wilderness.
