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SIPA Faculty
Mark Brownstein
International Affairs Building, 13th Floor
Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Phone: 212-854-3213
mb3498@columbia.edu
Biography:
Mark Brownstein is deputy director of the Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund, where he plays a leading role in crafting EDF’s clean energy advocacy agenda.
Brownstein’s research focuses on natural gas development, carbon capture and storage, electric transmission and distribution planning and development (including smart grid), and wholesale and retail market development.He was one two EDF staff leads on the United States Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of the nation’s leading corporations and environmental groups championing immediate action on federal legislation to cap and substantially reduce greenhouse gas pollution across the U.S. economy.
He is co-author of the Carbon Principles, a set of enhanced due diligence principles for investment banks considering the financing of coal fired power plants.
Brownstein previously served as director of Enterprise Strategy for Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), where he worked with PSEG’s senior leadership in crafting and implementing the corporation’s business strategy. During his nearly ten year career with PSEG, Brownstein served the company in a variety of environmental management roles, including Director of Environmental Strategy and Policy.
Brownstein was active in numerous environmental legislative and regulatory proceedings including efforts to develop federal legislation limiting emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide from power plants, and the Environmental Council of States’ 37-state Ozone Transport Assessment Group process, which developed specific recommendations to address the problem of ozone transport in the eastern United States.He was also an active member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act Advisory Committee and New Jersey’s Renewable Energy Task Force.
Brownstein also served as an attorney in private environmental practice, as a regulator with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and as aide to then-Representative Robert G. Torricelli of New Jersey.
He holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Vassar College.