Karen Palmer
Senior Fellow; Director, Electric Power Program
Karen Palmer is a senior fellow at RFF and an expert on the economics of environmental, climate and public utility regulation of the electric power sector. Her work seeks to improve the design of environmental and technology regulations in the sector and the development of new institutions to help guide the ongoing transition of the electricity sector. To these ends, she explores climate policy design, analyzes efficient ways to promote use of renewable and other clean sources of electricity, and investigates new market designs, new approaches to electricity pricing and regulatory reforms to pave the way for long-term decarbonization of electricity supply and electrification of the energy economy.
In the 1990s, Palmer spent six months as a visiting economist in the Office of Economic Policy at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where she worked on wholesale market design in the nascent ISO markets. She has served on three National Academies study panels, including one on the future of electricity from renewables and one on the future of electric power in the US. She is immediate past President of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE) and serves on the Environmental Advisory Council to the New York ISO and on the Future Power Market Forum Advisory Group. She is the recipient of the Public Utility Research Center’s 2015 Distinguished Service Award and was elected as an AERE Fellow in 2018. Her published papers have appeared in many academic journals including the American Economic Review, the RAND Journal of Economics, The Journal of Political Economy and The Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.
Education
- PhD in economics, Boston College, 1990
- BA in economics, Brandeis University, 1981
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In Focus — Apr 22, 2024
In Focus: Regulating Emissions from US Power Plants
This video shares insights about a forthcoming rule from the US Environmental Protection Agency that is expected to limit emissions from the power sector, with RFF Senior Fellow Karen Palmer.
Resources Radio — Jan 2, 2024
2023 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy, with Karen Palmer and Joseph Majkut
Karen Palmer and Joseph Majkut discuss the important and overlooked stories in energy and environmental policy from 2023, along with stories and issues to watch for in 2024.
Press Release — Nov 9, 2023
Adding an Emissions Cap to the Inflation Reduction Act Could Create More Cost-Effective, Certain Emissions Reductions
New RFF modeling shows that a federal cap on power-sector emissions could carry the United States to its power-sector emissions goal, and that such a cap would be less expensive for emitters and households than it would have been otherwise.
Working Paper — Nov 9, 2023
Leveraging the IRA to Achieve 80x30 in the US Electricity Sector
This working paper explores how a federal emissions cap could build on the emissions reductions promised by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Working Paper — Nov 9, 2023
Leveraging the IRA to Achieve 80x30 in the US Electricity Sector
This working paper explores how a federal emissions cap could build on the emissions reductions promised by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Explainer — Sep 22, 2023
Transmission 102: Building New Transmission Lines
This explainer reviews the actors involved in transmission expansion and the barriers involved in constructing new lines.
Explainer — Sep 22, 2023
Transmission 101: Transmission Planning
This explainer discusses the nuts and bolts of transmission planning, relevant actors, and recent policy developments.
Report — Sep 21, 2023
Expanding the Possibilities: When and Where Can Grid-Enhancing Technologies, Distributed Energy Resources, and Microgrids Support the Grid of the Future?
This report discusses three categories of solutions that can bolster resilience, reliability, and affordability of electricity transmission: grid-enhancing technologies, distributed energy resources, and microgrids.
Workshop — Jun 12, 2023
Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates Workshop: Research for Effective, Efficient, and Equitable Policy Implementation
An RFF workshop exploring zero-mission vehicle (ZEV) mandates and how they will change the transportation landscape in the United States.
RFF Live — May 19, 2023
Unplugging Emissions: Exploring New EPA Rules on Climate and Health
An RFF Live event examining three recent proposed and final rules on power-sector emissions from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
RFF Live — Feb 15, 2023
Exploring the New Baseline for Electricity in the Presence of the Inflation Reduction Act
An RFF Live event exploring how the electricity sector is expected to transform in the coming decades as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
RFF Live — Aug 10, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Modeling Major Climate and Energy Provisions
Examining the Inflation Reduction Act's projected effects on US emissions reductions and costs for US retail electricity consumers
In Focus — Apr 22, 2024
In Focus: Regulating Emissions from US Power Plants
This video shares insights about a forthcoming rule from the US Environmental Protection Agency that is expected to limit emissions from the power sector, with RFF Senior Fellow Karen Palmer.
Resources Radio — Jan 2, 2024
2023 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy, with Karen Palmer and Joseph Majkut
Karen Palmer and Joseph Majkut discuss the important and overlooked stories in energy and environmental policy from 2023, along with stories and issues to watch for in 2024.
Resources Magazine — Oct 4, 2023
Spirit Week Photo Contest
Turns out that Resources for the Future has many talented photographers on staff!
Common Resources — Sep 28, 2023
Designing Climate Policy for the Electricity Sector
Recent federal policy incentivizes low-carbon electricity generation. This conversation shares insights from experts about additional policy approaches that can help decarbonize the electricity sector while addressing environmental justice.
Press Release — Nov 9, 2023
Adding an Emissions Cap to the Inflation Reduction Act Could Create More Cost-Effective, Certain Emissions Reductions
New RFF modeling shows that a federal cap on power-sector emissions could carry the United States to its power-sector emissions goal, and that such a cap would be less expensive for emitters and households than it would have been otherwise.
Media Highlight — Aug 8, 2023
Harvard Environmental Insights Podcast: "The Electricity Sector and Climate Policy: A Discussion with Karen Palmer"
Senior Fellow Karen Palmer, who leads RFF's Electric Power Program, shares her thoughts on electricity regulation, climate policy, and more in this podcast episode.
Media Highlight — May 1, 2023
Bloomberg: "EIA Grid Emissions Tools Aids Big Consumers' Carbon-Cutting Goals"
This piece quotes RFF Senior Fellow Karen Palmer and cites a 2022 report she coauthored about EIA's options in publishing emissions data.
Media Highlight — Oct 13, 2022
Washington Post: "States Will Play Key Role in Implementing Climate Law"
A newsletter analysis of a new Energy Innovation paper mentions related research conducted by RFF on the Inflation Reduction Act's effects on the economy and the environment.