Meet Our Experts
GridLab relies on a network of independent experts and consultants to support its modeling and technical reports, and provide credible expert testimony in contested dockets. Since 2017, GridLab has developed relationships with over 70 experts, and continues to expand its network. GridLab experts are versed in a variety of clean energy topics, including power systems modeling, grid reliability, distribution system planning, resource planning, transmission planning, and more.
GridLab currently recognizes the need for additional expertise in reliability planning, transmission planning, gas distribution analysis, and general power systems engineering, and is actively engaging new experts on these topics. We encourage those interested in joining our expert network to reach out to our team here.
Are you a grid expert interested in joining GridLab’s network of independent experts and consultants?
Experts
John F. Fazio
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John F. Fazio
John Fazio is a power system analyst, providing consulting services in the areas of integrated resource planning, resource adequacy and Pacific NW hydroelectric operations. From 1984 until 2023, John has been an analyst for the Pacific NW Power and Conservation Council. His primary duty was to assist in the development of the Council’s regional power plan. He was the co-chair of the Council’s Resource Adequacy Advisory Committee’s technical subcommittee. He is a member (and former chairman) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Resource Adequacy Working Group. He is also a member of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Probabilistic Assessment Working Group (PAWG). John has a BS degree in Physics from the University of Portland and an MS degree in Physics from the University of Oregon.
Michael Goggin
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Michael Goggin
EXPERT
Michael Goggin has been working on clean energy integration and transmission solutions his entire career, and is currently the Vice President of Grid Strategies LLC. For the last decade he held multiple positions at the American Wind Energy Association, including Electric Industry Analyst, Manager of Transmission Policy, and Senior Director of Research. Prior to that he served as a research analyst covering solar, geothermal, and storage technologies for a DOE consulting firm, a renewable policy analyst for the state Public Interest Research Groups, and as the clean energy intern for the Union of Concerned Scientists. Michael has written nearly one hundred filings to FERC, been elected to various NERC committees, testified before state Public Utility Commissions over a dozen times, and has been quoted in hundreds of press articles and had dozens of letters to the editor published, including in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Michael holds a BA with Honors in Social Studies from Harvard University.
Elaine Hart
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Elaine Hart
EXPERT
Elaine Hart is a co-founder and principal at Sylvan Energy Analytics and leads the company’s consulting practice. She brings fifteen years of experience in clean energy system planning, with expertise spanning integrated resource planning, resource adequacy, complex resource valuation, and clean energy policy design and implementation. Elaine has driven innovation in resource planning and decarbonization strategy from within a major investor-owned utility and has advised state agencies, utilities, non-profits, and developers on the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to cleaner energy systems. She holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and is an alumnus of Harvey Mudd College.
Dr. Fredrich Karl
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Dr. Fredrich (Fritz) Kahrl
EXPERT
Dr. Fredrich (Fritz) Kahrl is managing partner at 3rdRail Inc., an affiliate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Electricity Markets & Policy (EMP) department, a research fellow at the California-China Climate Institute (CCCI), a senior advisor with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), and intermittent faculty in UC Berkeley’s Master of Development Practice (MDP) Program and the University of San Francisco’s Energy Systems Management (ESM) Program.
Previously, Dr. Kahrl was a director at Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) and worked at environmental think tanks and as a consultant to multilateral organizations. He has more than 15 years of experience in the energy sector, providing strategy and analytical support to government agencies, energy regulators, research institutes, system operators, utilities, and energy producers in North America, China, India, and Europe. His expertise covers electricity markets, renewable integration, utility resource planning, regulatory economics, transmission pricing, distributed energy resources, rate design, transportation energy, energy system modeling, and environmental economics. Dr. Kahrl received PhD and MS degrees from the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley and a BA in philosophy from the College of William & Mary.
Warren Lasher
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Warren Lasher
EXPERT
Warren Lasher is President of Lasher Energy Consulting, a firm he founded in October, 2021, focused on providing specialized analysis and insight designed to help clients meet their strategic energy goals. Prior to this role, Mr. Lasher spent seventeen years in the System Planning organization at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, serving as Director and then Senior Director of System Planning from 2012 to 2021. Prior to his work at ERCOT, Mr. Lasher was employed by the Southern Company in Birmingham, Alabama, where he worked in the Engineering and the Generation Planning organizations. Mr. Lasher has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, and graduate degrees in Environmental Management and Computer Science.
Nicholas W. Miller
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Nicholas W. Miller
EXPERT
Mr. Miller is a Principal with HickoryLedge LLC, a consultancy providing technical services. Nick is an internationally known power system engineer, with specialty in integration of wind and solar power to bulk power systems. Mr. Miller spent 3/8 of a century with GE, finishing his final decade of practice in the role of Senior Technical Director for GE Energy Consulting. In the last 16 years at GE, he led analytical developments for system integration of GE Wind Turbine-Generators into power systems, leading efforts on applications, controls and systems for large-scale coordination of wind and solar generation with other system resources. He lectured and provided consultation on wind and solar power integration to governments and institutions in more than three dozen countries. He worked with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) on Essential Reliability Services. Nick is an IEEE Fellow, a Licensed Professional Engineer in NY, and a CIGRE member. He authored 20 US patents, published over 160 papers and articles. He has received a number of industry awards and is the 2017 recipient of the prestigious GE Edison Award for advancements in Renewable Energy. He was awarded IEEE’s highest renewable energy honor, the Ramakumar Family Renewable Energy Award in 2018. He was the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Energy Systems Integration Group.
Dr. Michael Milligan
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Dr. Michael Milligan
EXPERT
Dr. Michael Milligan recently retired as Principal Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He has more than 30 years’ experience in analysis and modeling the bulk power system, and more than 25 years focusing on the impacts of wind and solar generation integration into the bulk system. He has authored/coauthored more than 220 articles and reports, and has led/participated in numerous North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), and IEEE Power and Energy Society working groups and committees. Michael’s work was influential in starting the Energy Imbalance Market in the Western Interconnection, and he was a key contributor to the International Energy Agency Task 25 research group, focusing on wind power integration to the bulk power system. He is now an independent power system consultant.
Keegan Moyer
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Keegan Moyer
EXPERT
Keegan is a Partner at Energy Strategies, bringing over 15 years of experience in the energy industry. He blends technical expertise, leadership, and creative problem-solving to deliver innovative solutions for clients. Keegan oversees a broad portfolio of analytical work focused on power delivery, transmission planning, and energy market analysis.
He thrives at the intersection of transmission, economics, regulatory policy, and business strategy, collaborating with a diverse set of clients, including utilities, ISOs/RTOs, developers, transmission companies, governmental agencies, and NGOs. A trusted advisor to many of the nation’s leading energy companies, his project portfolio reflects deep and varied expertise, spanning award-winning research studies, strategic planning initiatives, investment opportunities, and successful development of major transmission and renewable generation projects.
Known for guiding clients through complex, data-driven processes, Keegan helps stakeholders navigate challenging technical and regulatory environments with confidence. A recognized thought leader, he frequently speaks at industry conferences, sharing insights on transmission planning, renewable integration, and the future of the energy grid.
Arne Olsen
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Arne Olson
EXPERT
Arne Olson, Senior Partner
Arne leads E3’s Integrated System Planning practice. Arne helps clients navigate changes to bulk electric system operations and investment needs brought about by increasing policy and market interest in clean and renewable energy production. He has led a number of landmark studies of the feasibility, cost and reliability implications of achieving deep decarbonization and high renewable penetration goals for electric utilities, including studies of 100% renewables in California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, New England and PJM. He consults extensively for utilities, asset owners, electricity consumers, government agencies and environmental organizations. Prior to joining E3 in 2002, he served for six years in the Washington State Energy Office and successor agencies.
Nick Pappas
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Nick Pappas
EXPERT
Nick Pappas is an energy industry consultant focused on policy and market design for the electric sector. His consulting practice provides strategy, market intelligence, and advocacy for clean energy industry and stakeholder clients. Prior to establishing his consulting firm, Nick held leadership roles in regulatory and legislative policy at the California Community Choice Association, Southern California Edison, and the California State Assembly. Nick holds a MS in Energy Systems and BA in Economics from the University of California, Davis.
Ryan D. Quint
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Ryan D. Quint
EXPERT
Dr. Ryan Quint is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elevate Energy Consulting. He founded Elevate with the vision of doing good across the electricity sector during the clean energy transition. Ryan is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of Elevate projects across all verticals and is focused on building a world-class team of experts that can partner with industry to tackle emerging challenges facing our grid today and into the future. Prior to launching Elevate, Ryan spent nearly 9 years at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), most recently as the Director of Engineering and Security Integration, where he led numerous strategic initiatives focused on emerging reliability risk mitigation involving inverter-based resources, distributed energy resources, security integration, and leveraging emerging technologies. Ryan also has industry experience at Dominion Virginia Power and the Bonneville Power Administration. He received his PhD from Virginia Tech and is a registered professional engineer.
Anna Sommer
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Anna Sommer
EXPERT
Anna Sommer is based in Canton, NY and is a Principal of Energy Futures Group. She has more than 15 years of experience working on a wide variety of issues including energy planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration, and energy-water issues. Her primary focus is on all aspects of integrated resource planning (IRP) including capacity expansion and production costing simulation, scenario and sensitivity construction, modeling of supply and demand side resources, and review and critique of forecast inputs such as fuel prices, wholesale market prices, load forecasts, etc. Additionally, she has experience with various aspects of DSM planning including construction of avoided costs and connecting IRPs to subsequent DSM plans. Anna is trained to run the Strategist and EnCompass models and has reviewed modeling performed using numerous models including AURORA, Capacity Expansion Model, Plexos, PowerSimm, PROSYM, PROMOD, SERVM, and System Optimizer. She has provided expert testimony in front of utility commissions in Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and South Dakota.
Ms. Sommer holds a BS in Economics and Environmental Studies from Tufts University and an MS in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.
Derek Stenclik
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Derek Stenclik
EXPERT
Derek Stenclik is a founding partner of Telos Energy and is an industry leader in power grid planning, operations, and reliability. He has nearly a decade of experience helping clients across the electric power industry navigate evolving markets, adapt to rapidly changing technologies, and accelerate clean energy integration.
He is a recognized expert on deregulated power markets, wind and solar integration, battery energy storage, and distributed energy resources. He is passionate about guiding the development of the future power grid and accelerating renewable energy adoption.
Curt Volkmann
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Curt Volkmann
EXPERT
Curt Volkmann, President of New Energy Advisors, has over 35 years of international experience with electricity, natural gas and water utilities. Curt previously held engineering and consulting roles for Pacific Gas and Electric, UMS Group, and Accenture. He has managed multi-client benchmarking programs for electric transmission, distribution and fleet management, and analyzed impacts to the distribution grid from distributed generation and demand-side management programs. Curt has also led a variety of consulting projects including smart grid planning, organization optimization and cost reduction, asset management, merger integration, benchmarking, and process improvements.
Curt now serves as an expert witness and technical advisor in distribution planning and grid modernization proceedings, advising non-profits and local governments on a variety of clean energy opportunities.
Curt has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. (Finance) from the University of California, Berkeley. He held a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer license in the State of California from 1987 to 1995.
Organizations
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Brattle
The Brattle Group answers complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts working across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Our Electricity practice has assisted market operators, utilities, regulators, and market participants in the US, Canada, and worldwide with insightful, rigorous analyses that help navigate a changing energy landscape. We combine a thorough understanding of industry regulation and operations to inform wholesale market and retail rate designs, planning processes, and investment decisions to meet policy objectives cost-effectively and reliably.
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Catalyst Cooperative
Catalyst Cooperative is an all-remote employee-owned software and data engineering consultancy that publishes analysis-ready open energy system data serving the public interest. We believe that energy system data is a vital public good, and that enabling a just transition requires that many different stakeholders have the ability to do quantitative analysis. We build and maintain scalable, reproducible data pipelines to support organizations working on the energy transition, and specialize in transforming messy, semi-structured data from a wide variety of public sources into unified, programmatically accessible databases. We use scalable, industry leading technologies to continuously integrate and deploy our data products, including machine learning pipelines that can link disparate but related datasets, and extract structured data from unstructured documents like regulatory filings. Our data products are used in energy system modeling, utility financial accountability, and energy policy analysis by NGOs, academic researchers, climate advocates, and companies deploying clean energy across the US.
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Current Energy Group
Current Energy Group offers a fresh perspective to clients, bringing a comprehensive approach to the energy transition. By addressing the technical, economic, and policy questions at the heart of every decision, we help our clients achieve outcomes that are engineered to be actionable, financially viable, and beneficial for the communities we serve.Our nationally recognized team of experts collaborate on every question to bring interdisciplinary perspectives to solve complex challenges. This includes direct experience serving 36 states, providing expert testimony in 29 states across a wide range of subject matters ranging from Integrated Resource Plans, General Rate Cases, Power Cost dockets, Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity, Interconnection, Transmission Planning, and Distribution Planning. Our past clients have included both private and public sector entities including Fortune 500 companies, public interest organizations, utility commissions, clean energy buyers, and industry trade associations.We are experts with over fifty (50) years of collective experience in the electric and gas utility sectors who speak the language of regulators, ensuring our clients’ strategies are grounded, actionable, and beneficial for all stakeholders.
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Elevate Energy
Elevate Energy Consulting was founded to help take the electric energy sector to new heights. We believe in a reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable clean energy future for generations to come. That means we collectively must act now to effectively and efficiently overcome significant obstacles to achieve that vision. With deep technical expertise mixed with a strong knowledge of regulation and policy, our team is positioned to elevate industry and serve our clients across the electricity ecosystem. We specialize in a broad range of energy consulting services: renewables integration, modeling, and studies; transmission reliability assessments; regulatory compliance; technical management consulting; workforce development, education, and training; advocacy and policy development; and research and development.
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Energy + Environmental Economics (E3)
Sylvan Energy Analytics provides consulting services and software solutions to drive innovation in clean energy planning. Sylvan’s consulting practice offers expertise in integrated resource planning, capacity expansion and production cost modeling, resource adequacy, and clean energy policy implementation to a wide range of clients, including utilities, government agencies, non-profits, think tanks, and national labs. Sylvan also develops and maintains GridPath, a versatile open-source grid-analytics platform for capacity expansion, production cost, and resource adequacy analyses.
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Energy Strategies
Energy Strategies, a Salt Lake City-based consultancy, has been engaged by GridLab on multiple occasions, providing technical support on integrated resource planning processes and developing custom models to evaluate the US power system under high penetrations of renewables. The firm has worked in electric venues across North America for over three decades and has developed a deep understanding of the technical, economic, and policy drivers of power markets. Energy Strategies has a diverse client list, working in both the electric and natural gas sectors while serving generation developers/owners, transmission companies, utilities, large energy consumers, EV infrastructure companies, data centers, and non-governmental organizations. The economists, engineers, data scientists, and policy experts at Energy Strategies offer a wide breadth of skill, allowing the firm to engage in all aspects of the industry, from rate design in state regulatory proceedings to detailed evaluations of power system reliability. While the work Energy Strategies takes on is complex, the firm’s approach to engagements is simple: focus on the clients most critical questions and needs, identify or develop the best data and tools to apply, perform precise analysis, and finally, develop technically-supported and innovative insights that are concise and actionable
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Energy Futures Group
Energy Futures Group is a clean energy consulting company with expertise in energy efficiency, renewable energy, strategic electrification, decarbonization policy and integrated resource planning. We provide high quality consulting services, engage in work that is impactful to society, and work on projects that are personally rewarding. Energy Futures Group is a clean energy consulting company with expertise in energy efficiency, renewable energy, strategic electrification, decarbonization policy and integrated resource planning. We provide high quality consulting services, engage in work that is impactful to society, and work on projects that are personally rewarding.
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Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
EPRI is a research organization that follows the science to help power society toward a reliable, affordable, and resilient energy future. Rigorously objective in our role and our research, we do not advocate for any specific company, sector, or technology. With a foundational mission to benefit society, EPRI delivers independent, objective thought leadership and industry expertise through a highly collaborative approach. EPRI was founded in Palo Alto, Calf., by Dr. Chauncey Starr in 1972. For more than 50 years, EPRI has grown our R&D network around the world, collaborating with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity. With more than 1,300 employees, EPRI maintains a global presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
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Evolved Energy Research
Evolved Energy Research was founded to address key energy sector questions accelerated by policy goals and new technology development:
- What are the costs and challenges to transform the energy system to meet policy driven carbon-reduction goals?
- What does a rational infrastructure investment strategy look like given uncertain policy targets and technology development?
- Where are the business opportunities and what impact will energy system change have on people’s lives?
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Grid Strategies LLC
Grid Strategies LLC is a power sector consulting firm helping clients understand the opportunities and barriers to integrating clean energy into the electric grid. Drawing on extensive experience in transmission and wholesale markets, Grid Strategies analyzes and helps advance grid integration solutions. Based in the Washington DC area, the firm is actively engaged with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Department of Energy, state Public Utility Commissions, Regional Transmission Organizations, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Congressional committees, the administration, and various stakeholders.
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Sylvan Energy Analytics
Sylvan Energy Analytics provides consulting services and software solutions to drive innovation in clean energy planning. Sylvan’s consulting practice offers expertise in integrated resource planning, capacity expansion and production cost modeling, resource adequacy, and clean energy policy implementation to a wide range of clients, including utilities, government agencies, non-profits, think tanks, and national labs. Sylvan also develops and maintains GridPath, a versatile open-source grid-analytics platform for capacity expansion, production cost, and resource adequacy analyses.
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Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.
Synapse Energy Economics is a research and consulting firm specializing in energy, economic, and environmental topics. Since its inception in 1996, Synapse has grown to become a leader in providing rigorous analysis of the electric power and natural gas sectors for public interest and governmental clients.
Synapse’s services include economic and technical analyses, regulatory support, research and report writing, policy analysis and development, representation in stakeholder committees, facilitation, trainings, development of analytical tools, and expert witness services.
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Telos Energy
As a premier power systems analytics and engineering firm, Telos Energy specializes in wind, solar, batteries, and high renewable power grids. Using highly detailed grid models and technology, Telos helps clients navigate a fast-changing, complex industry in order to accelerate their clean energy and emerging technology goals. Telos combines their expertise in energy economics, electrical engineering, and grid simulation with an extensive network to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the impact of new technologies, markets, and policies on power systems.