Virginia McConnell
Senior Fellow
Virginia McConnell’s recent research is on policies to reduce greenhouse gases from the transportation sector, focusing primarily on the role of electric vehicles. She has assessed the prospects for electric vehicles, and evaluated policies to promote them including California’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) policy.
McConnell has evaluated a range of issues associated with current vehicle regulations, including analyses of the costs and benefits of fuel economy regulations, the efficiency of credits markets for lowering the costs of regulation, efficient policies for alternative vehicles and fuels, and the interaction between state and federal transportation policies. Her research is relevant for a number of current policy debates, including the stringency and assessment of federal fuel economy regulations, and the role of different policies for promoting electric vehicles. Earlier work related to the transportation sector included analyses of alternative policies for reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants that contribute to ambient ozone and particulates.
McConnell came to RFF years ago as a Gilbert White Fellow, working on issues related to transportation and the environment. She continues to highly value the unique role RFF plays in bringing academic analysis to important environmental policy debates.
Education
- PhD in economics, University of Maryland, 1978
- BA in economics, Smith College, 1969
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Press Release — Apr 13, 2023
Updated Tax Policies Could Secure Road Infrastructure Funding While Supporting the Energy Transition
Using the organization’s modeling capabilities, a team of researchers from Resources for the Future (RFF) analyzed several policy options that would maintain America’s roadways while supporting the transition to a cleaner transportation network.
Working Paper — Apr 13, 2023
Transportation Taxes and Energy Transitions: Alternative Policy Designs for Funding US Road Infrastructure and Pricing Externalities
In this working paper, the authors use an economic model of the US household vehicle market to estimate the effects of three alternative revenue policies for funding transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance.
Media Highlight — Apr 26, 2022
The Boston Globe: "High Prices at the Pump Hurt. Here's Why They Should Be Even Higher."
RFF research on federal fuel efficiency standards is cited in this op-ed.
RFF Live — Oct 29, 2021
Driving Decarbonization: Examining Electric Vehicles and Low-Carbon Fuels in US Reconciliation Efforts
Driving Decarbonization: Examining Electric Vehicles and Low-Carbon Fuels in US Reconciliation Efforts
Working Paper — Apr 13, 2023
Transportation Taxes and Energy Transitions: Alternative Policy Designs for Funding US Road Infrastructure and Pricing Externalities
In this working paper, the authors use an economic model of the US household vehicle market to estimate the effects of three alternative revenue policies for funding transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance.
Report — Dec 8, 2020
Progress and Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Progress and Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Working Paper — Apr 13, 2020
Interpreting Tradable Credit Prices in Overlapping Vehicle Regulations
Interpreting Tradable Credit Prices in Overlapping Vehicle Regulations
RFF Live — Oct 29, 2021
Driving Decarbonization: Examining Electric Vehicles and Low-Carbon Fuels in US Reconciliation Efforts
Driving Decarbonization: Examining Electric Vehicles and Low-Carbon Fuels in US Reconciliation Efforts
Workshop — Dec 2, 2015
The Evolving US Vehicle Fleet: Responding to New Federal Regulations
Panelists analyzed consumer demand for fuel economy and how lower gasoline prices can affect future fuel savings.
Conference — Dec 17, 2013
Identifying Research Priorities for the Midterm Review of US Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rate Standards
Identifying Research Priorities for the Midterm Review of US Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rate Standards
Conference — Oct 3, 2007
Smart Growth at 10
Smart Growth at 10
Common Resources — Sep 30, 2021
Fuel Economy Standards Will Help Speed the Deployment of Electric Vehicles, But May Not Be Enough to Achieve the 2030 Target
The Biden administration hopes to drastically increase the share of electric vehicles on the road. New fuel economy standards will help, but emissions reductions from efficient gasoline vehicles will far outweigh reductions from new electric vehicles.
Common Resources — Sep 22, 2021
What Should Federal Agencies Assume for How Much Consumers Are Willing to Pay for Fuel Cost Savings?
Government agencies that assess the consequences of fuel economy standards assume that consumers value just the first 30 months of fuel cost savings. Should the agencies reconsider their assumptions?
Common Resources — Sep 8, 2021
How Much and How Quickly Will Biden’s Proposed Fuel Economy Standards Reduce Emissions?
President Joe Biden’s proposed fuel economy standards are more ambitious than those of his predecessors, but the regulations might only modestly reduce emissions from passenger vehicles.
Common Resources — Dec 9, 2019
Credit Trading Accelerates as Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards Tighten
RFF Senior Fellow Virginia McConnell and Fellow Benjamin Leard explore how incorporating credit trading is necessary to understand the costs and benefits of national fuel economy standards.
Press Release — Apr 13, 2023
Updated Tax Policies Could Secure Road Infrastructure Funding While Supporting the Energy Transition
Using the organization’s modeling capabilities, a team of researchers from Resources for the Future (RFF) analyzed several policy options that would maintain America’s roadways while supporting the transition to a cleaner transportation network.
Media Highlight — Apr 26, 2022
The Boston Globe: "High Prices at the Pump Hurt. Here's Why They Should Be Even Higher."
RFF research on federal fuel efficiency standards is cited in this op-ed.
Media Highlight — Nov 7, 2020
Fact Check: Post Incorrectly IDs Nickel Mine, Lacks Context on Electric Cars
Fact Check: Post Incorrectly IDs Nickel Mine, Lacks Context on Electric Cars
Press Release — Apr 10, 2020
New RFF Study: "Interpreting Tradable Credit Prices in Overlapping Vehicle Regulations"
A new study, published today by Resources for the Future (RFF), examines the effects of these overlapping regulations on manufacturer behavior and infers the resulting relationship between credit prices and the costs of emission reductions.