Economist Beia Spiller to Lead Resources for the Future’s Transportation Program
Spiller, who previously worked as a lead senior economist at Environmental Defense Fund, has joined Resources for the Future to spearhead the organization’s transportation research.
Resources for the Future (RFF) is pleased to announce that economist Beia Spiller has joined the organization’s ranks as a fellow and director of the Transportation Program. Spiller, whose first day is May 2, will help take RFF’s scholarship to new heights as she studies the implications of transportation and electricity policies on climate change, air pollution, and equity.
“I’m very pleased to be at RFF,” Spiller said. “I’ve already had many opportunities to work with the research team and support staff, and I’m excited to hit the ground running. Transportation accounts for 30 percent of US carbon dioxide emissions—policies to decarbonize this sector will be important to reach climate goals and improve global welfare and environmental justice. I’m looking forward to expanding RFF’s capacity in this area and diving into the nitty-gritty of the issues.”
For almost ten years, Spiller worked at Environmental Defense Fund in New York City, where she rose to the rank of lead senior economist. There, she focused her work on creating an efficient, clean, and equitable energy sector that would benefit society at large—work she will continue at RFF.
Recently, Spiller has examined questions about vehicle demand, gasoline taxes, and the implications of vehicle electrification. She has also worked on major projects regarding the electricity sector, including research on the environmental and health impacts of renewable energy resources. And she’s no stranger to RFF; before leaving for Environmental Defense Fund, she worked on these issues as an RFF postdoctoral fellow after graduating with her PhD from Duke University.
At RFF, Spiller will be leading the Transportation Program, which was created in October 2021 as part of the organization’s strategic refocus. In her new role as director, she will lead the expansion of RFF’s transportation research and ensure that it tackles the most pressing issues facing decisionmakers and other stakeholders.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have Beia on our team,” RFF Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement Billy Pizer said. “She is a smart, driven individual who has conducted excellent research and worked in policy spheres to make sure that her findings are having an impact on the world. I know I can speak for everyone at RFF when I say that the Transportation Program is in good hands.”
You can read more about Spiller and her research on her profile page.
RFF continues to recruit new staffing capacity for many of its programs and initiatives. For more information on RFF’s research priorities, publications, events, editorial resources, and more, please visit rff.org.
Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy.
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may differ from those of other RFF experts, its officers, or its directors. RFF does not take positions on specific legislative proposals.
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