Getting Clean Energy Built: How Resource Planning Decisions Are Made

In July, CRES will be joined by Dr. Brent Nelson of Ascend Analytics, who will provide an orientation to US power markets and regulatory processes, explaining how decisions about our electricity supply get made and who makes them, market forecasting practice at Ascend Analytics, advising clients on emerging market dynamics, and a strategic long-term investment strategy. His knowledge spans wholesale markets, financial modeling, emerging technologies, and energy systems analysis.

Prior to joining Ascend, Dr. Nelson was an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University and held a collaborative appointment at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL), focusing on energy systems analysis and decarbonization. He also worked for the US Department of Energy from 2014 to 2016, focusing on R&D and commercialization strategy for energy efficiency and load flexibility. He has extensive experience in energy technology and energy system modeling, with a focus on understanding market opportunities for emerging technologies. Dr. Nelson holds a PhD and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.