Aaron Ray Email & Phone Number

Denver, Co, Us

Denver, Colorado, United States

Leads the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources across all of the Department of Natural Resources’ Divisions and plans for and addresses wildlife and recreation impacts of renewable energy development. Develops, negotiates, and communicates policy options on energy issues that reflect the priorities of the Department and its divisions.Represents the Department on the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and Greening Government Leadership Council. Supervises the… Show more Leads the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources across all of the Department of Natural Resources’ Divisions and plans for and addresses wildlife and recreation impacts of renewable energy development. Develops, negotiates, and communicates policy options on energy issues that reflect the priorities of the Department and its divisions.Represents the Department on the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and Greening Government Leadership Council. Supervises the Colorado Produced Water Consortium staff. Represents the Department at congressional, legislative and general assembly hearings, in dealings with federal agencies, local governments and special districts in the region, and serves as liaison to the Governor and other state departments related to energy issues.Counsels the Executive Director on the requirements, responsibilities, and opportunities of the Department under state and federal statutes pertaining to the development of oil and gas and renewable energy. Analyzes and interprets federal, state and local laws, regulations, planning documents and proposed legislation affecting natural resource issues.Serving on the Colorado School of Mines CCUS Innovation Center Advisory Board to support research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable communities to transition toward zero-emissions energy generation. Show less

Greater Denver Area

Teaches graduate Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) courses, including Environmental Protection Law, Environmental Finance and Economics, Environmental Policy Analysis, Renewable and Alternative Energy, Nuclear and Hydrogen Energy, Environmental Foundations and Principles, and Environmental Values and Ethics; and designs EPM curricula.

Greater Denver Area

Teaches graduate Political Science courses, including Research Methods and the Politics of Public Budgeting.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Served as Interim Director of Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. Led organization of ~200 professional staff and $32.5 million budget. Oversaw major rulemakings on deep geothermal operations and the evaluation of cumulative impacts and enhanced systems and practices for oil and gas operations. Represented ECMC at Colorado School of Mines' Global Energy Leaders Summit. Advised international delegations from Canada, Iraq, Southeast Asia, and Turkmenistan on energy regulation.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Led team of analysts specializing in state and Federal energy policy and conducting legislative, statutory, and regulatory research and analysis on a wide range of energy policies that spanned legislative and executive action. Principal investigator on more than $4.5 million in cooperative agreements with DOE offices.Areas of focus included: renewable energy generation and energy efficiency, alternative fuels and electric vehicles, fossil fuel production and reclamation, energy… Show more Led team of analysts specializing in state and Federal energy policy and conducting legislative, statutory, and regulatory research and analysis on a wide range of energy policies that spanned legislative and executive action. Principal investigator on more than $4.5 million in cooperative agreements with DOE offices.Areas of focus included: renewable energy generation and energy efficiency, alternative fuels and electric vehicles, fossil fuel production and reclamation, energy resilience, cyber security, nuclear generation and waste management, grid modernization, etc.Delivered energy policy expertise and nonpartisan research and analysis for state legislators, legislative staff, and stakeholders. Collaborated with an extensive network of state and Federal agencies, funders, private-sector partners, academia, and interest groups. Show less

Denver, Co

Oversaw nine Colorado agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Energy Office, and Department of Public Health and Environment. Formerly Deputy Director for Education, Workforce, and Environment.Led policy development on energy and environment, education, human services, local government, workforce, and public safety. Collaborated with Climate and Energy Cabinet to advance the Governor's climate goals.Supervised a team of analysts to coordinate… Show more Oversaw nine Colorado agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Energy Office, and Department of Public Health and Environment. Formerly Deputy Director for Education, Workforce, and Environment.Led policy development on energy and environment, education, human services, local government, workforce, and public safety. Collaborated with Climate and Energy Cabinet to advance the Governor's climate goals.Supervised a team of analysts to coordinate legislative strategy, advance evidence-based policy, improve program performance, and formulate the Governor’s Budget. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Formulated Department of the Interior policies, legislative proposals, regulations, and budgets for the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and Bureau of Indian Affairs natural resources programs.OMB representative to the OSTP NSTC Committee on Environment, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and the National Drought Resilience Partnership.Former Presidential Management Fellow.

Greater Denver Area

Detailed to USGS SW Region Director's Office as Associate Regional Director.Developed regional tribal engagement strategy, conducted science center reviews, and evaluated science mission related to mining activities near the Colorado River.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Supported climate adaptation by state and local governments, including working with the Western Adaptation Alliance partner cities to identify strategies to mitigate climate impacts on water supply.Managed team tracking implementation of state climate change adaptation plans. Coordinated outreach to states and associations and supported development of a web-tool to make data available.Advised National Disaster Resilience Competition applicants at West and Northeast Academies… Show more Supported climate adaptation by state and local governments, including working with the Western Adaptation Alliance partner cities to identify strategies to mitigate climate impacts on water supply.Managed team tracking implementation of state climate change adaptation plans. Coordinated outreach to states and associations and supported development of a web-tool to make data available.Advised National Disaster Resilience Competition applicants at West and Northeast Academies, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation.Planned and facilitated workshop with federal, state, and local officials on climate change adaptation in the water sector. Authored chapter of summary report published by the Georgetown Climate Center. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Authored briefs for USAID on climate adaptation in the water quality sector and on the water-energy nexus.Coauthored guidebook published by UNEP on climate adaptation financing for developing countries.Researched monitoring technology for carbon capture and storage projects to inform EPA's regulatory process.Analyzed data and coauthored report on scientific data management for EPA's Office of Research and Development.

Participated in preparation of Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force 2010 and 2011 Progress Reports, including authoring section on Federal climate science and services; developed slide deck for interagency meeting to coordinate Federal climate science and services; and authored memoranda and framing paper to inform interagency workgroup on adaptation metrics.Analyzed impacts of proposed EPA regulations on the economy, power sector reliability, emissions, and water quality… Show more Participated in preparation of Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force 2010 and 2011 Progress Reports, including authoring section on Federal climate science and services; developed slide deck for interagency meeting to coordinate Federal climate science and services; and authored memoranda and framing paper to inform interagency workgroup on adaptation metrics.Analyzed impacts of proposed EPA regulations on the economy, power sector reliability, emissions, and water quality and created and maintained database of projections of power plant retirements and the impacts of those retirements on reliability, electricity and fossil fuel prices, and emissions.Created database of projections of electric vehicle adoption and implications for electricity generation and transmission.Complied research on ground water contamination incidents related to hydraulic fracturing and reviewed analysis of life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity generation using natural gas obtained from hydraulic fracturing operations.Participated in review of USDA National Forest System Land Management Planning rule, DOI polar bear critical habitat designation, Federal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting and Reporting Guidance, and DOE building energy efficiency code determinations.Researched long-term liability and stewardship issues pertaining to carbon capture and storage projects. Show less

Authored papers distributed at the COP 16 Climate Conference on emissions from small engines and emissions from international marine cargo shipping. Contributed research and authorship to report on reducing black carbon emissions through diesel conversion.

Researched and wrote section on social media for report on media coverage of Gulf oil spill entitled "100 Days of Gushing Oil." Analyzed content to support publication of weekly News Coverage Index, opportunistic studies, and yearly State of the News Media Report.

Created curriculum focused on the international environmental effects and policy implications of industrialization, colonialization, decolonialization, and globalization.

Created and implemented curriculum for economics, government, and history courses. Mentored new teachers. Managed budget, fundraising, media contact, and hiring for basketball program.

Taught undergraduate philosophy courses.

Ph.D., Political Science

Dissertation titled "The Politics of Climate Adaptation"; Committee: Dr. James Thurber, Chair, American University: Dr. Dan Fiorino.

Mpp, Environmental And Regulatory Policy

Thesis titled “Municipal Participation in Environmental Agreements” presented at the William & Mary Graduate Research Symposium..

Ma, Education

Thesis research into teacher retention in Native American communities.

Ba, Philosophy, Political Science, And Religion

Presidential Scholar.

Public Policy

Coursework included Chinese Economic and Public Policy.

Economic History

Coursework included environmental, economic, social, and political elements of industrialization.

Political Science

Coursework included East Asian political and economic affairs.