Certificate in Energy Economics and Policy

Overview

Are you concerned about how to power our planet sustainably? Are you interested in helping to bring about the transition from our fossil fuel based economy to a renewable energy future? Would you like to create a career that helps build a new, more sustainable energy economy?

The Certificate in Energy Economics and Policy provides intensive training in energy economics, management, and policy. It is designed to address energy management issues at scales ranging from the individual building, to the microgrid, to the national and international levels. It can be combined with many academic majors.

The certificate, a partnership between the Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ENRE) and the URI Extension Outreach Center, is designed to successfully integrate civic engagement and experiential learning projects. It will actively engage students in integration, synthesis, and application of knowledge to real world energy projects, focusing on problem-oriented instruction, peer learning, team projects, and/or service learning.

The Energy Certificate will certify to employers that you have the knowledge and skills to help solve critical energy-related challenges of the 21st century.  These skills are in great demand by local, state, and federal government agencies, environmental organizations and the private sector.

You will learn to apply analytical tools to improve energy management, and you will develop knowledge and skills necessary to become an informed participant in the energy policy debate. 

Among other skills, you will learn how to:

  1. Benchmark energy use in buildings, including private residences, industrial, commercial, and municipal facilities;
  2. Design options for meeting energy needs through increased reliance on efficiency, conservation, and sustainable energy production;
  3. Analyze investments in energy conservation, energy efficiency and sustainable energy production;
  4. Evaluate the economic and environmental consequences of policy options for managing energy at the local, regional, national, and global levels;
  5. Develop effective written and oral communication skills so recipient can effect change by becoming an active participant in the public debate regarding solutions to energy challenges; and
  6. Design more effective energy policies

Questions?

URI Environmental and Natural Resource Economics faculty member, Simona Trandafir

Simona Trandafir

Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

401.874.7428
simona@uri.edu