William A. Pizer
Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement
Billy Pizer is Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement at RFF. From 2008 to 2011, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Energy at the US Department of the Treasury, where he oversaw Treasury’s role in the United States' global environment and energy agenda. He is a research professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where he was previously the Susan B. King Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research. Prior to his time at the US Treasury and Duke University, he was a researcher at RFF for more than a decade.
Pizer has written more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, books, and articles, focused on the economics of climate change, and holds a PhD and MA in economics from Harvard University and a BS in physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently a member of the NASEM Committee on Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States and is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Education
- PhD, MA in economics, Harvard University, 1996
- BS in physics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1990
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Press Release — Oct 10, 2023
Reimagining the Connection between International Trade and Climate Policy: What Are the Options?
Following the launch of the European Union’s landmark carbon tariff, a new RFF report dives into the pros, cons, and considerations for similar policies.
Report — Oct 10, 2023
Carbon Border Adjustments: Design Elements, Options, and Policy Decisions
This report identifies key design elements in carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) and considers options available to policymakers, especially in the United States and European Union.
Resources Magazine — Oct 4, 2023
Sailing Uncharted Waters: International Trade Becomes an Element of Climate Policy
The European Union has launched its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as a way of extending its domestic climate policy to the international trade system. But aligning climate policy with international trade comes with complications.
Testimony and Public Comments — Aug 8, 2023
Updated Estimates of the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases for Usage in Regulatory Analysis Related to EPA Emissions Guidelines from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Generating Units
This comment to the Environmental Protection Agency provides an overview of the best available science on the social cost of carbon related to the agency's proposed revisions to section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.
Report — Oct 10, 2023
Carbon Border Adjustments: Design Elements, Options, and Policy Decisions
This report identifies key design elements in carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) and considers options available to policymakers, especially in the United States and European Union.
Testimony and Public Comments — Aug 8, 2023
Updated Estimates of the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases for Usage in Regulatory Analysis Related to EPA Emissions Guidelines from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Generating Units
This comment to the Environmental Protection Agency provides an overview of the best available science on the social cost of carbon related to the agency's proposed revisions to section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.
Testimony and Public Comments — Aug 3, 2023
Individual Peer Reviewer Comments on Proposed OMB Circular No. A-4, "Regulatory Analysis"
Billy Pizer, RFF's Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement, shares his thoughts on Circular A-4 as part of the Office of Management and Budget's peer-review process.
Testimony and Public Comments — Jun 1, 2023
Comments to OMB on the Proposed Revisions to Circular A-4
To the Office of Management and Budget on proposed revisions to Circular A-4.
RFF Live — Jun 27, 2023
Policy Road Map to Accelerate Responsible BECCS Deployment
An event hosted by EFI Foundation and Resources for the Future reviewing the future of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
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 — Nov 14, 2022
US Climate Policy: The Road Ahead
US Climate Policy: The Road Ahead
RFF Live — Nov 11, 2022
Industrial Decarbonization, Border Measures and Climate Clubs
Industrial Decarbonization, Border Measures and Climate Clubs
Resources Magazine — Oct 4, 2023
Sailing Uncharted Waters: International Trade Becomes an Element of Climate Policy
The European Union has launched its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as a way of extending its domestic climate policy to the international trade system. But aligning climate policy with international trade comes with complications.
In Focus — Jul 3, 2023
In Focus: Financing the Energy Transition in Developing Nations
Billy Pizer, RFF's Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement, shares his thoughts on ways to finance the energy transition in developing nations.
In Focus — Nov 7, 2022
In Focus: What to Watch for at COP27
This video shares insights about the forthcoming COP27 and leading topics of discussion anticipated for the conference, with RFF Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement Billy Pizer.
Resources Magazine — Oct 20, 2022
Getting to a Net-Zero Resilient Economy
What is a net-zero resilient economy?
Press Release — Oct 10, 2023
Reimagining the Connection between International Trade and Climate Policy: What Are the Options?
Following the launch of the European Union’s landmark carbon tariff, a new RFF report dives into the pros, cons, and considerations for similar policies.
Press Release — May 30, 2023
New Papers Explore the Intersection of Social Sciences and Solar Geoengineering
The RFF Solar Geoengineering Project published four papers as part of a funding opportunity to bolster solar geoengineering social science research.
Media Highlight — May 26, 2023
The Economic Times: An Interview with Billy Pizer
The Economic Times, a prominent Indian newspaper, published a Q&A with RFF Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement Billy Pizer.
Media Highlight — Apr 18, 2023
The Hill: "White House Issues Reforms to Regulatory Process"
RFF's Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement, Billy Pizer, discusses the Office of Management and Budget's new rule proposals in a widely syndicated news article.