Resume

• 2009

  NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise\nInstitute on the Environment

  University of Minnesota

  Founding Director

  Institute on the Environment

  University of Minnesota

  NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Development

• 1999

  University of Minnesota

  INCAE Business School

  Environmental Sciences

  Policy & Management\nDept. of Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering

  University of Minnesota

• 1998

  GTE Wireless

  GTE Wireless

• 1994

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  M.B.A.

  Forest Resources Management

  Marketing

  Management Science

  Penn State University

• 1991

  B.S.

  Finance

• 1987

  West potomac

• Climate Change

  Environmental Policy

  Sustainability

  Life Cycle Assessment

  Data Analysis

  Energy Efficiency

  Sustainable Development

  Environmental Awareness

  Environmental Science

  Management

  Policy

  Renewable Energy

  Energy Policy

  Program Management

  Environmental Management Systems

  Research

  Revisiting renewable portfolio standard effectiveness: policy design and outcome specification matter

  This study investigates patterns of RPS policy design and analyzes the effects on policy outcomes measured at the level of utility compliance. \n\nWinner of the 2013 Lasswell Prize for the Policy Science Article that \"contributes most to the theory and practice of the policy sciences.\"

  Revisiting renewable portfolio standard effectiveness: policy design and outcome specification matter

  Carbon emissions and management scenarios for consumer-owned utilities

  We develop an approach that utilizes streamlined LCA methods

  together with linear programming

  to determine optimal portfolios of product impact-reduction opportunities under budget constraints. Results suggest that extending EPP decisions and resources to the portfolio level

  recently made feasible through the methods illustrated herein

  can provide substantially greater CO2e and water-depletion reductions per dollar spend than a product-by-product approach

  creating opportunities for procurement organizations to participate in firm-wide environmental impact reduction targets.

  Optimizing Eco-Efficiency Across the Procurement Portfolio

  Developing a blueprint for an energy efficiency asset class.

  Increasingly

  organizations are working to reduce the environmental footprint of their supply chains. The use of environmentally preferable purchasing criteria is one strategy organizations use to address this goal. However

  evaluating the environmental performance of these criteria (e.g. recycled content

  biodegradable

  renewable

  etc.) has remained elusive. Life cycle assessment (LCA) can measure the impact reduction potential of sourcing strategies

  however

  full process-based LCAs are time consuming and costly across multiple criteria of thousands of products and inputs purchased in an organizational setting. A streamlined “hotspot” methodology is presented using a combination of environmentally extended input-output (EEIO) approaches

  extant literature and parameterized process-based LCA. Case studies of wheat cereal and orange juice are developed to test the cost-benefit of this approach and assess sourcing criteria scenarios. Results suggest that a substantial proportion of total impact can be assessed with significant reductions in process data inputs

  allowing for a more robust comparative assessment of sourcing criteria – within and across hotspots.

  Hotspot Scenario Analysis: comparative streamlined LCA approaches for Green supply chain and procurement decision-making

  Four configurations of a novel solar-heated biomass gasification facility and one configuration of conventional biomass gasification are analyzed through financial and policy scenarios. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential financial position for varying configurations of a novel technology

  as compared to the current state-of-the-art gasification technology. Through the use of project finance and policy scenario development

  we assess the baseline breakeven syngas price (normalized against natural gas prices and based upon annual feedstock consumption)

  the sensitivity of major cost components for the novel facilities

  and the implications of policy levers on the economic feasibility of the solar facilities. Findings show that certain solar configurations may compete with conventional facilities on a straightforward economic basis. However

  with renewable energy policy levers in place the solar technologies become increasingly attractive options.

  Economic assessment of solar and conventional biomass gasification technologies: Financial and policy implications under feedstock and product gas price uncertainty

  Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of GHG Emissions for Bio-PET Bottles

  Determine firm-specific influence on county corn production for the beef

  pork

  poultry

  and ethanol industries

  which collectively account for approximately 70% of corn demand. Spatially-explicit sourcing model will be used to determine how these companies can influence farm-level best practice implementation.

  Kimberly Mullins

  NorthWest Advanced Renewables Alliance

  Use LCA to assess the co-products of the wood-to-jet fuel biorefinery and determine how these may affect the bio-fuel's ability to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard. Results will be used as inputs to an optimization model that will optimize for both profit and environment.

  Tim

  Smith

  INCAE Business School

  NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Development