Senior Consultant
Paul Picciano

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Paul Picciano

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Mr. Picciano joined E3 in 2022 and primarily works in E3’s resource planning group, where he evaluates clean electricity pathways for clients at the state, city, and utility levels. Mr. Picciano joined E3 after earning his master’s degree from MIT’s Technology and Policy Program where he utilized energy and air pollution models to evaluate air quality-related health and equity impacts of U.S. decarbonization policy. Prior to MIT, he worked for three years at Resources for the Future, where he developed and applied power sector models to analyze policies related to carbon pricing and clean energy standards at federal and state levels and engaged with decision makers and stakeholders to communicate their effects and advise policy development. Before that, he evaluated energy and environmental regulations at NERA Economic Consulting, and researched wind and solar energy integration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 Paul began understanding the important interconnections between clean energy, the environment, and health during high school while supporting a project in rural India helping families transition to cleaner, more affordable and reliable cooking fuels. He continued exploring and developing passions for energy and environmental fields while at Pomona College, including environmental economics and energy systems engineering. Paul was drawn to E3 to continue contributing technical, impactful analysis to inform energy and policy decisions, and is dedicated to helping guide a transition to a cleaner and more equitable energy future.

In his free time, Paul enjoys playing soccer, exploring the outdoors, and making home-made pasta.

Education: MS, Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; BA, Pomona College, Environmental Economics

Projects

Scenario Analysis to Support the 2023 Annual Report | United States Climate Alliance, 2023

E3 provided scenario analysis to support the US Climate Alliance’s 2023 Annual Report which highlighted the progress Alliance members have already made toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and using E3’s modeling, detailed multiple scenarios of Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050. E3 evaluated Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050 using E3’s PATHWAYS model to map out the trajectory of current policies including the Inflation Reduction Act, proposed federal actions, and additional ambitious collective actions for Alliance states or the federal government. These scenarios highlighted the gap between current policies and GHG targets and quantified the impact of incremental measures and actions. E3 also evaluated the benefits and costs of achieving net zero GHG emissions, including health benefits, climate benefits, and direct costs of fuels and clean infrastructure, showcasing net savings through 2050 of decarbonization.

Read the detailed project description.

New York City Long-Term Energy Plan | New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, 2022-2023

E3 led a team completing an inclusive, year-long study to identify the policies and programs needed to achieve the New York City’s decarbonization goals. E3’s analysis involved both examining policies and programs to meet the city’s long-term goals as well as providing specific recommendations for actions to be taken during the current administration. The study included eight research branches focused on the performance and cost of heat pumps in new buildings; the affordability of electrification retrofits in rent-regulated housing; the opportunities for electric school bus managed charging and vehicle-to-grid; the potential for in-city wind energy; a screening of public lands for new clean energy development; an assessment of the electric grid readiness for increasing heat pump and EV charging loads; and an evaluation of how bulk energy storage could reduce reliance on in-city fossil generation. Based on E3’s study, New York City published PowerUp NYC, the city’s first Long-Term Energy Plan, which includes 29 clean energy initiatives focused on the city’s energy grid, its buildings, and its transportation sector. Many aspects of the PowerUp NYC, from research topic selection to recommendations, were developed in collaboration with the public, and with the public’s interest at the forefront of the decision-making process. The recommendations of the LTEP are aligned with long-term energy and equity policy mandates from both the city and state and revolve around the needs of NYC residents.

Read the detailed project description.


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