Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center

Electrification is crucial for decarbonizing transportation, buildings, and industry. Policymakers, utilities, and manufacturers are rapidly advancing programs that support electrification while benefiting consumers and enhancing grid resilience. This presentation will discuss the current state and future prospects of beneficial electrification, highlighting how research and development on advanced grid integration technology and policy might deliver exceptional economic and resilience advantages as well as decarbonization.

Robin is a seasoned energy policy and strategy advisor with a focus on clean, abundant, economic, and resilient energy solutions. He has worked with governments, industries, investors, and environmental organizations in Australia and the US to bridge the gap between competitive markets, effective policy, and technological innovation. His expertise lies in fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders to advance business, consumer, and environmental goals.

Robin was a founding board member of the Beneficial Electrification League, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to address climate change, benefit energy consumers, and foster a resilient grid. He continues to serve on the board and executive committee, guiding the organization’s rapid growth.

In recent years, Robin has shifted his focus to land use and environmental restoration of poorly performing agricultural land. He studies fire risk in the urban-wildland interface, water management, and economic feasibility issues related to a transition to more suitable crops and restoration of native flora on the central California coast. He serves on the advisory board of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.

He was formerly with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Next Energy US, Next Energy (Australia), Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and US Congress Office of Technology Assessment. He has advised on federal and state clean energy policy and electric grid asset acquisition and sales, explored hydrogen-derived fuels and grid-interactive consumer devices, and worked on nuclear power plant life management, energy system vulnerability, and market restructuring.

Robin received a PhD - Civil Engineering, MS - Engineering-Economic Systems and BS - Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.