Siting renewable energy in North America

Join us to discuss the political challenges and opportunities associated with siting and building renewable energy projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

We'll hear from three researchers—one from each of the three countries—who have studied how such project proposals are received by host communities in their respective countries, and the associated political and governance issues.

From the speakers' bios

Sarah Mills is a senior project manager at the University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute, where she manages the Climate and Energy activities. This includes a grant from the Michigan Office of Climate and Energy to help communities across the state consider energy in their land use planning, zoning and other policymaking. Sarah also conducts research at the intersection of energy policy and land use planning-- especially in rural communities. Her current work focuses on how renewable energy development impacts rural communities (positively and negatively), the disparate reactions of rural landowners to wind and solar projects, and how state and local policies facilitate or hinder renewable energy development. Some of this research is in conjunction with the Ford School Renewable Energy Support Fund. She has a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University.

Heather Millar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Brunswick. Her research interests include Canadian provincial energy and climate politics; risk perception, policy learning and feedback; and social acceptance of new technologies. Heather is also affiliated with the Institute for Science, Society, and Policy at the University of Ottawa and the Environmental Governance Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Heather has recently published research articles on provincial climate and energy policy in Environmental Politics, Review of Policy Research, and Policy Sciences.

Iñigo Martínez Peniche is a PhD Candidate in Political and Social Sciences, with a focus on international relations, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)'s School of Political and Social Sciences. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from UNAM as well. His research interests include the geopolitics of energy and natural resources; energy integration and regionalization processes; global, regional, and local governance of climate change; energy transition; climate change; and the socio-environmental impacts of energy infrastructure projects. He has 15 years of experience in legislative work, particularly in the Chamber of Deputies. He is also an independent consultant on energy and climate change issues. He currently works as an Advisor in Energy and Climate Change for POLEA, a Mexican environmental NGO. Since 2013, he has served as an Academic Tutor for the Master's in Energy and Environmental Policy and Management program of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLASCO), Mexico.

Faculty Expert

Barry Rabe

J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Professor of Public Policy

Rabe examines the political feasibility and durability of environmental and energy policy, with a particular emphasis on efforts to address climate change in the U.S. and other federal systems. His most recent books examine the politics of carbon pricing and the limitations of unilateral executive branch policy actions. Current research explores the politics of intensive but short-lived greenhouse gases, such as methane and HFCs. Recent policy engagement includes work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

• climate policy
• climate
• energy and electricity
• energy and environment
• North American Colloquium Climate Series