Harvard Law School Environmental Policy Initiative appoints new Energy Fellow

Ari Peskoe, a former associate in the Energy Advisory Group of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, and a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania, has been named Energy Fellow in the Harvard Law School Environmental Policy Initiative. His fellowship began January 6. Peskoe will build out the Initiative’s work on the interface between electricity policy and environmental regulation.

“I am delighted to announce Ari’s addition to our team. His technical background, experience litigating before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and deep interest in electricity regulation will enable the Policy Initiative to grow our energy policy portfolio,” said Kate Konschnik, Policy Director of the Harvard Environmental Law Program. “Now more than ever, environmental lawyers and policy makers need to understand energy policy and electricity markets, to effectively address the climate change and pollution challenges in these sectors. We want to provide practical tools for these decision-makers, to help them in this work.”

Peskoe will conduct energy policy research, with a particular focus on the potential constitutional barriers to state clean energy laws. He will also help to convene discussions between energy market participants, constitutional experts, and state energy and environmental officials to facilitate conversations on these issues.

“Under Kate’s leadership, our policy shop is already making its mark,” said Jody Freeman, Archibald Cox Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and Director of the Environmental Law Program. “Building out the Policy Initiative with talented legal thinkers enables Kate to provide policy support to the federal and state leaders who are coming to rely on the shop for strong, independent legal analysis.”

The Harvard Environmental Policy Initiative works to produce more effective energy and environmental policy through informing energy and environmental decision-making with policy-relevant products and common-sense proposals for filling regulatory gaps and improving implementation.