The following University of California, Davis, researchers can provide expertise to media on outages other issues surrounding utilities and utility prices. This list was updated in October 2024. 

Public ownership, energy cooperatives, utilities, local community economic development

Keith Taylor is an extension professor at the University of California’s Cooperative Extension and UC Davis’ Department of Community and Regional Development. Taylor is a recognized leader in utility cooperative governance and has worked widely with energy utilities nationally. Taylor’s economic development work primarily focuses on the design and implementation of cooperatives, with a particular focus on how local communities can leverage the cooperative organizations to create local jobs, build and enhance community wealth, and increase investment in renewable energy infrastructure. He has authored a book, Governing the Wind Energy Commons: Renewable Energy and Community Development (West Virginia University Press), forthcoming July 2019. Contact: keitaylor@ucdavis.edu

Energy solutions, sustainable development

Catherine Brinkley is an assistant professor of community and regional development. She is a city planner, and her research focuses on energy facility-siting decisions and climate mitigation through district energy. Contact: ckbrinkley@ucdavis.edu

Energy and environmental policy, economics

James Bushnell is a professor in the Department of Economics and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Bushnell has long been actively involved in energy and environmental policy. Since 2002, he has served as a member of the Market Surveillance Committee of the California Independent System Operator, or CAISO.  He has also advised the California Air Resources Board on emissions trading and other climate policies. Prior to joining UC Davis, he spent 15 years as the research director of the University of California Energy Institute in Berkeley, and two years as the Cargill Chair in Energy Economics at Iowa State University. Contact: jbbushnell@ucdavis.edu

Clean technologies, sustainable energy

Austin Brown focuses on technologies and policies for clean energy and sustainable transportation. He directs the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, the Environment, and the Economy. He recently served an 18-month detail in the Obama White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Contact: dokbrown@ucdavis.edu