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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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.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Testimony and Public Comments — Apr 28, 2023
Comments to OMB on Expert Peer Reviewers for the Revision to Circular A-4
To the Office of Management and Budget on nominations of experts to participate in the scientific peer review of proposed revisions to Circular A-4.
Working Paper — Apr 6, 2023
The Shadow Price of Capital: Accounting for Capital Displacement in Benefit–Cost Analysis
This working paper illustrates how calculating discount rates with the shadow price of capital (SPC) approach can produce more accurate results in the context of decisions involving long-lived impacts, such as climate change.
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.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Testimony and Public Comments — Apr 28, 2023
Comments to OMB on Expert Peer Reviewers for the Revision to Circular A-4
To the Office of Management and Budget on nominations of experts to participate in the scientific peer review of proposed revisions to Circular A-4.
Working Paper — Apr 6, 2023
The Shadow Price of Capital: Accounting for Capital Displacement in Benefit–Cost Analysis
This working paper illustrates how calculating discount rates with the shadow price of capital (SPC) approach can produce more accurate results in the context of decisions involving long-lived impacts, such as climate change.
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
Workshops — Sep 15, 2022
RFF Solar Geoengineering Research Project: Academic Workshop
RFF Solar Geoengineering Research Project: Academic Workshop
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?
Resources Magazine — Oct 19, 2022
State-Level Roles in the Transition to Net Zero
Resources for the Future will work with state decisionmakers to support climate goals in areas like energy transmission and distribution planning, resilience and reliability in the electric grid, and emissions in the transportation sector.
Resources Magazine — Oct 19, 2022
Climate Change Risk in the Financial System
Resources for the Future will identify and improve the measurement of climate risks associated with financial assets and the financial system, so we can support financial stability, a thriving economy, and a healthy environment.
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.
Media Highlight — Apr 7, 2023
InsideEPA: "OMB's Draft Cost-Benefit Guide Likely to Bolster Climate Mitigation Rules"
Billy Pizer, RFF's Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement, provides insights on the Office of Management and Budget's new proposed guidance.