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Research

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

 

Exploring Future Energy Scenarios in Peru

  • Developing a computational representation of the energy system in Peru

  • Modeling the impact of policy, technology, and uncertain resources

Investigating Variability of Air Quality across San Antonio​

  • Evaluating air quality differences across a large and diverse city

  • Determining compounding risk factors and possible areas for mitigation measures

Bridging the Gap Between Emissions and Air Quality Modeling

  • Creating tools to improve the connectivity of TIMES and CMAQ modeling

  • Evaluating the effect of energy emission changes on future US air quality

  • Improving the utility of energy scenario modeling

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Field Work

Installing air quality monitors

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Dissertation Research

My dissertation research uses the MARKAL model to examine the impact of incorporating damage based emissions fees on energy use in the US. The emissions fees modeled are based on the value of damages associated with human health and climate change. I use the MARKAL model to analyze how internalizing these emissions externalities through fees would change the electricity produced, fuels used, emissions controls, and ultimately the quantity and type of emissions produced in the electric power, transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial energy use sectors in the US. I also expanded the MARKAL model by including a wider range of technologies than the EPA 9 region database as well as full life cycle emissions. This portion of my research has already received recognition through two peer-reviewed articles and has been presented at several national and local conferences, including an invited talk at the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment conference, LCA-XIV, in San Francisco. To round out my dissertation and better quantify the effect of emissions changes, I am currently working with the CMAQ model to add an air quality modeling component to the results.

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