I’m an Energy Policy Analyst at NRDC’s new Center for Market Innovation, focusing on federal and state policies that drive clean technology innovation, investment and deployment, with a concentration on renewable energy – especially solar and algae biofuels. My recent projects include developing a federal deployment mechanism to encourage large-scale penetration of distributed generation, analyzing impacts of climate legislation on renewables investment, and managing a year long project to understand the sustainability of algae biofuels production. I joined NRDC in May 2008 after graduating from Columbia business school. I went to undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, and have eight (eclectic) years of strategy, research and marketing experience in a variety of industries.
Posted January 22, 2013 by Cai Steger
This is a guest post from Daniel Lorch, Program Assistant, Energy & Transportation/CMI, New York Late last year, I attended the 2012 Social Enterprise Conference hosted by Columbia Business School. The focus of the event was to bring together industry...continued→
Posted October 26, 2012 by Cai Steger
This week, the National Academy of Sciences released a report on the Sustainability of Algae Biofuels, the drafting of which I had the privilege to be a part of as a member of the Study Committee. Coverage can be found...continued→
Posted August 20, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Before adjourning for August recess, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee reported a tax extenders bill addressing the fate of over $200 billion in tax extensions. Among the 55 tax provisions were 13 energy-related tax extensions, that combined will...continued→
Posted August 14, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
An important wind power study (also helpful presentation version) was released today by two prominent energy experts from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs - Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger. Each have each been studying the renewable energy sector for decades, and...continued→
Posted July 30, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Criticism of government involvement in the energy sector (i.e. the kind that hasn’t degenerated into partisan warfare and hackery) tends to focus on two main themes – it’s better to let the “free market” decide, or government has a poor...continued→
Posted April 18, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Experts from Brookings, Breakthough Institute and WRI released a report today with some insightful and thought-provoking conclusions. In it, they quantify the amount of government funding provided to clean energy from 2009-2014 and the rate that funding will fall off...continued→
Posted March 27, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Last week, Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican Budget Committee chairman, released a federal budget proposal that doubles down on the idea that we should subsidize fossil fuel companies at the expense of clean energy. I’d love to be more impartial...continued→
Posted March 22, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
The new Green Jobs study from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the most credible and nonpartisan source for this type of data, shows us two things: First, with 3.1 million green jobs, this sector is alive and extremely...continued→
Posted March 13, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
An important vote took place today on a critical bill to extend renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives in the Senate today. Many of these policies either have expired or are about to expire at the end of this year,...continued→
Posted February 13, 2012 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil, U.S. Law and Policy
Today, the Obama Administration released its annual budget proposal, outlining spending priorities for the upcoming year. For supporters of renewable energy, it demonstrates a strong commitment to boosting investments in energy science and innovation, while supporting critical policies that level...continued→
Posted November 17, 2011 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Wanted to pass along a great new Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) report on clean energy jobs. They’re tracking clean energy job announcements, to correct any misperceptions about the strength and growth of the clean economy. This report looks at the 118...continued→
Posted October 28, 2011 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
This is a guest post from 2011 NRDC MAP Fellow Lauren Kubiak. With policy makers tied up in largely irrelevant arguments about clean energy, I turned my attention to a different area of energy: research and development. Showcasing the most...continued→
Posted September 14, 2011 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
Last week, Representatives Fred Upton and Cliff Stearns stated the following regarding the Solyndra bankruptcy: "President Obama's signature green jobs program went from a darling of the administration, to bankruptcy, to now the subject of an FBI raid in a...continued→
Posted September 8, 2011 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
In the last few weeks, it seems like every other day there’s been a different negative story about jobs in the new clean economy. I responded to an especially bad one in the Times, but I’ve seen several more since. ...continued→
Posted August 25, 2011 by Cai Steger in Moving Beyond Oil
The most recent Green Scissors report is out, recommending hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies that could be cut to reduce the budget deficit and improve our environment. Green Scissors provides a host of useful proposals to save tens...continued→
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