Increasing the Light

I am an energy economist working on nuclear commercialization and innovation at the Breakthrough Institute. I have a background in energy markets, and my dissertation focused on residential solar.

I grew up in rural Appalachia, spending my time hiking, escaping into sci-fi novels, and later exploring the mountains. My childhood left me wondering why some places were wealthy while others were impoverished, leading me to study economics and focus on energy, which is the backbone of civilization. I have a love for nature writing and science fiction that seems contradictory, but leads me to ask, “Why can’t we have both?” The more economic and technological progress there is, the better stewards of nature humanity can be. Economic growth and nature do not have to be at odds with each other; there are pathways forward for both to thrive.

Kids, cakes, and long runs

I enjoy spending time with my family, baking, running, and listening to jazz. I read a bit of everything, but I particularly love sci-fi, nature writing, and long-form deep dives.