Erin Baker

Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Faculty Director of the Energy Transition Institute University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Amherst MA

Erin Baker informs policymakers on energy technology in the face of climate change.

Contact

University of Massachusetts Amherst

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Expertise

Sustainability equity
Energy equity
Environmental equity
Energy Economics and Policy
Wind Energy
Environmental Decision-Making
Wind Turbines

Biography

Erin Baker is a nationally-known expert on wind energy who has advised policymakers about making decisions on energy technology in the face of climate change.

Social Media

Video

Education

Stanford University

Ph.D.

Engineering Economic Systems & Operations Research

Stanford University

M.A.

Engineering Economic Systems & Operations Research

University of California, Berkeley

B.A.

Applied Mathematics

Select Recent Media Coverage

Energy Justice with Prof. Erin Baker

Public Power Underground  online

2024-09-27

In an audio interview, Erin Baker, Distinguished Professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, discusses what a just energy transition looks like.

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2023 was a record year for wind installations as world ramps up clean energy, report says

AP News  online

2024-04-16

Erin Baker, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and faculty director of the UMass Amherst Energy Transition Institute, is quoted in a story on the growth of wind-energy installations. Though the world installed 117 gigawatts of new wind power capacity in 2023, she notes the industry faces supply chain and grid challenges. “The recent growth, and nations’ support for the wind industry, are hopeful signs that the supply chain is being established,” Baker says.

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Why Florida doesn’t have wind energy, but lawmakers want to curb it anyway

Tampa Bay Times  print

2024-03-05

Erin Baker, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and faculty director of the UMass Amherst Energy Transition Institute, comments about a bill in the Florida legislature that would ban offshore wind turbines in state waters. “As the technology evolves and changes — which it has been doing very, very rapidly — there may be a day when offshore wind makes sense in Florida. In some sense, they’re not banning anything right now. They’re banning future wind energy, which could be 10 times better,” Baker says.

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Select Publications

The US just set ambitious offshore wind power targets. What will it take to meet them?

Fast Company

Erin Baker and Matthew Lackner

2021-04-03

UMass Amherst professor Erink Baker writes about what it will take for the U.S. to meet its offshore wind energy goals. She says, "Every year of delay for a large-scale wind farm costs the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars in climate benefits."

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Why the offshore wind industry is about to take off

The Conversation

Erin Baker and Matthew Lackner

2018-05-15

There are only five wind turbines operating in U.S. waters today. But that will likely soon change, partly because of states with ambitious offshore wind targets.

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With a tight federal budget, here’s where to focus clean energy research funding

The Conversation

Erin Baker

2017-05-22

The U.S. Department of Energy spends US$3-$4 billion per year on applied energy research. These programs seek to provide clean and reliable energy and improve our energy security by driving innovation and helping companies bring new clean energy sources to market.

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