Lori Bird

About Lori Bird

Lori Bird specializes in the area of clean energy markets and policy. She has worked extensively in the areas of state and federal renewable energy policy, green power markets, renewable energy grid integration, and solar and wind energy markets. She has advised state and international clients on renewable energy issues. Recently, she helped launch the WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition and leads US energy work for the Center. Previously, she helped launch WRI\'s Electric School Bus Initiative as well as a variety of initiatives within the WRI energy program, including the City Renewables Accelerator. Prior to joining WRI, she was a principal analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where she won several awards for her work to expand markets for renewable energy. She also worked for Hagler Bailly consulting and as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy. During her career, she has co-authored nearly 150 publications on renewable and clean energy issues, including articles in academic and trade journals such as: Energy Policy, The Electricity Journal, Renewable Energy World, Public Utilities Fortnightly, and Corporate Environmental Strategy. In addition, she has been quoted or her work cited in a variety of U.S. newspapers and magazines, including NPR, CBS news, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Business Week, the Denver Post, and Forbes. She holds an M.E.S in environmental management from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in economics and environmental studies from Indiana University.

Experience

1. Director Ii, Us Energy - Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition

   World Resources Institute

   Feb 2025 — Present

   Lead WRI\'s US energy transition work within WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition. The center harnesses analytical power, convening ability and global expertise to help orchestrate the transition to a clean, abundant, affordable and reliable energy future. As global energy demand surges—driven by advances in AI, rapid electrification and economic transformation—the nonpartisan WRI Polsky Energy Center seeks to overcome critical barriers to modernizing and expanding energy grids, scaling financing and deployment, sourcing critical minerals responsibly and building a skilled, future-ready workforce. In the United States, the WRI Polsky Energy Center will tackle hurdles to the implementation of clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions to meet growing demand.

Education

• Yale University - School of the Environment

  MES, Environmental Policy and Management

• Indiana University Bloomington

  B.A., Economics, Environmental Studies

Skills

• Energy
• Policy
• Energy Conservation
• Renewable Energy
• Environmental Management Systems
• Wind
• Green Building
• Natural Gas
• Environmental Awareness
• Alternative Energy
• Program Management
• Proposal Writing
• Biomass
• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Solar Energy
• Sustainable Energy
• Energy Efficiency
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Carbon Markets
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Carbon
• Photovoltaics
• Leed
• Environmental Policy
• Energy Policy
• Cleantech
• Energy Management