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Barry Rabe

Professor Emeritus
Climate + Energy
[email protected]
734-615-9596

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About

Barry Rabe was an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Environmental Policy; J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Professor of Public Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy; Professor of the Environment, College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Professor of Environmental Policy, School for Environment and Sustainability; and Professor of Political Science, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

Barry's research examines the intersection of environmental protection and energy development in federal systems, with special interest in the role of American states and Canadian provinces in policy development and implementation. Much of his work in recent years has examined sub-federal climate policy and public opinion on climate issues, including ongoing collaboration in the development of the National Surveys on Energy and the Environment (NSEE). He has also expanded research in the past few years to consider policy issues related to state and local development of shale gas resources and serves on the 2013-14 National Research Council Committee on Risk Management and Governance Issues in Shale Gas Development.

Publications

  • Greenhouse Governance: Addressing Climate Change in America, editor (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 2010).
  • Statehouse and Greenhouse: The Emerging Politics of American Climate Change Policy (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 2004).
  • Beyond NIMBY: Hazardous Waste Siting in Canada and the United States (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1994). (Published jointly with the National Planning Association, Washington, DC, and the C.D. Howe Institute, Toronto).
  • When Federalism Works (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1986). (Co-authored with Paul E. Peterson, and Kenneth K. Wong).
  • Fragmentation and Integration in State Environmental Management (Washington, DC: Conservation Foundation, 1986).

Research
  • “Energy Policy Durability,” Alfred Sloan Foundation and American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2015-2016 (Co-investigator)
  • “Great Lakes Policy Research Network Initiative,” Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2012-2014 (Co-principal investigator)
  • “Pricing Carbon: Provincial Formation of Energy and Climate Policy,” Canadian Studies Faculty Research Grant Program, 2010-2012 (Principal investigator)
  • “State and Nation: Michigan Opinion on Climate Change in a National Context,” Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, University of Michigan, 2010-11.
  • “The National Conference on Climate Governance,” Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and Oak Hill Foundation, in collaboration with the Miller Center of Public Affairs, 2008-2010. (Project Director)
Education

Ph.D., University of Chicago (political science)
M.A., University of Chicago (social sciences)
B.A. Carthage College (history, urban studies)

Affiliations
  • Co-Chair, National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology Subcommittee on Assumable Waters, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2015-16.
  • Presidential Transition 2016 Panel on Collaboration Across Boundaries, National Academy of Public Administration, 2015-16.
  • Committee on Risk Management and Governance Issues in Shale Gas Development, National Research Council, 2013-14
In the News
COP29 logo
November 11, 2024

COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan: U-M experts available to comment

EXPERTS ADVISORY Negotiators from nearly 200 countries have gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the two-week COP29 conference in an effort to advance global climate...

Supreme Court limits EPA’s ability to regulate carbon emissions: U-M experts available
June 30, 2022

Supreme Court limits EPA’s ability to regulate carbon emissions: U-M experts available

EXPERTS ADVISORY The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants, dealing a blow...

Biden climate pledge: U-M experts available to comment
April 22, 2021

Biden climate pledge: U-M experts available to comment

EXPERTS ADVISORY President Joe Biden pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions in half by 2030 during a virtual climate summit today with 40 world leaders. University...

In the Media
04/13/2025
Barry Rabe
Trump’s love affair with dirty coal can’t compete with market realities (Chicago Tribune)
04/01/2025
Barry Rabe
DOGE, but make it state level (Politico)
03/10/2025
Barry Rabe
Trump Is Leading an 'All-Out Assault' on the Climate (Rolling Stone)
02/03/2025
Barry Rabe
Opinion: Who gets to rebuild? Los Angeles fires expose the weakness of U.S. home insurance. (MarketWatch)
01/29/2025
Barry Rabe
Almost half of US states haven’t done the bare minimum to cut utility bills (Grist)
01/27/2025
Barry Rabe
A rural energy co-op in northern Michigan wants a nuclear revival (WDET-FM Public Radio)
01/23/2025
Barry Rabe
Rural Michigan company sees big potential in Palisades nuclear plant restart (Bridge Michigan)
12/18/2024
Barry Rabe
Biden makes a last big push to keep Trump from killing the electric car (Politico)
12/03/2024
Barry Rabe
Trump Will Have Enormous Power Over Climate Action. Here’s Why. (The New York Times)
11/23/2024
Barry Rabe
How Trump Could Actually Increase Fossil Fuel Production (Vox)
11/20/2024
Barry Rabe
Trump wants a big expansion in fossil fuel production. Can he do that? (Vox)
11/16/2024
Barry Rabe
Changes likely coming with Trump administration (Michigan Public)
11/11/2024
Barry Rabe
What does Donald Trump's victory mean for the climate?
11/04/2024
Barry Rabe
Trump donor fined for pollution leads a fight to end methane emission penalties (The Guardian)
10/30/2024
Barry Rabe
3 ways the EV is dominating Michigan’s elections (E&E News)
10/28/2024
Barry Rabe
How fracking and EVs could swing election in Blue Wall states (Politico)
10/14/2024
Barry Rabe
Michigan a top winner of climate funds Trump wants to revoke (Bridge Michigan)
10/01/2024
Barry Rabe
Hurricane gives Democrats a climate opening in Florida (E&E News)
09/19/2024
Barry Rabe
Harris’ fracking reversal may have a sequel (Politico)
08/22/2024
Barry Rabe
Democrats Call for the Elimination of Billions in Oil and Gas Subsidies (The Wall Street Journal)
07/17/2024
Barry Rabe
Electricity prices get political in Trump’s world (E&E News)
05/02/2024
Barry Rabe
New US climate rules for pollution cuts ‘probably terminal’ for coal-fired plants (The Guardian)
03/21/2024
Barry Rabe
Inside the Republican attacks on electric vehicles (Chicago Tribune)
03/21/2024
Barry Rabe
Inside the Republican Attacks on Electric Vehicles (The New York Times)
03/19/2024
Barry Rabe
Innovative solutions will be necessary to reduce methane emissions, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, experts say (ABC News)
02/17/2024
Barry Rabe
Biden Administration Is Said to Slow Early Stage of Shift to Electric Cars (The New York Times)
01/16/2024
Barry Rabe
Energy, environment on back burner as Trump wins Iowa (E&E Daily)
01/09/2024
Barry Rabe
Joe Biden Is Producing More Oil Than Donald Trump Did (Newsweek)
11/17/2023
Barry Rabe
Michigan wants 100 percent of its electricity to be clean by 2040 (Interlochen Public Radio)
11/15/2023
Barry Rabe
Michigan wants 100 percent of its electricity to be clean by 2040 (Grist)
11/09/2023
Barry Rabe
Biden to Celebrate Auto Plant Reopening in Illinois (The New York Times)
11/08/2023
Barry Rabe
A Package of Bold Laws Puts Michigan on a Fast Track to Renewable Energy (The New York Times)
11/01/2023
Barry Rabe
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer might notch a big climate win (The Washington Post)
09/28/2023
Barry Rabe
Trump is attacking electric vehicles. Automakers already bet their future on them (CNN)
09/26/2023
Barry Rabe
Michigan Legislature tackles ambitious climate legislation. How far will it go? (Great Lakes Now)
08/31/2023
Barry Rabe
Why Joe Biden Needs Joe Manchin More than Ever (Newsweek)
07/02/2023
Barry Rabe
Gregory Dick
A Climate Laggard in America’s Industrial Heartland Has a Plan to Change, Fast (The New York Times)
06/21/2023
Barry Rabe
Coolant smuggling is a problem. The EPA’s power to tackle it was just cut down. (The Washington Post)
05/26/2023
Barry Rabe
Biden fossil fuel boost creates political storm on his left (E&E News)
05/23/2023
Barry Rabe
Alaska looks toward clean energy market while still relying on oil (Fox Business Network)
05/23/2023
Barry Rabe
'Leap of faith:' Alaska pursues carbon offset market while embracing oil (ABC News)
04/19/2023
Barry Rabe
Republicans Fight a Solar Boom That’s Made Texas King of Clean Energy (Bloomberg)
03/03/2023
Barry Rabe
The Left's Changing Position on Nuclear Energy (Newsweek)
02/17/2023
Barry Rabe
Why Die-Hard Climate Change Skeptics Are Unlikely to Change Their Minds (Newsweek)
01/02/2023
Barry Rabe
Michigan Democrats aiming to erase business friendly environmental laws (Bridge Michigan)
12/12/2022
Barry Rabe
Democratic control of Michigan puts climate change action on 2023 agenda (Bridge Detroit)
11/17/2022
Barry Rabe
What a Republican House means for energy (E&E News)
11/09/2022
Barry Rabe
Midterm nail-biter clouds Biden’s clean energy plans (E&E News)
11/08/2022
Barry Rabe
Climate change stayed backstage in campaign homestretch (E&E News)
11/03/2022
Barry Rabe
Three governor's races that really matter for climate policy (The Washington Post)
10/31/2022
Barry Rabe
3 governor’s races set to remake clean energy (E&E News)
10/25/2022
Barry Rabe
Tudor Dixon and Gretchen Whitmer polar opposites on Michigan environment (Bridge Michigan)
09/21/2022
Barry Rabe
Senate approves climate treaty limiting potent greenhouse gases (The Hill)
09/14/2022
Barry Rabe
At Detroit Auto Show, Biden Announces Money for Charging Stations (The New York Times)
08/24/2022
Barry Rabe
The climate law will help red states. Can it change minds? (E&E News)
07/20/2022
Barry Rabe
‘Clear and present danger’: Climate’s new normal (POLITICO)
07/14/2022
Barry Rabe
The battle over a Key(stone) climate fix (Politico)
07/11/2022
Barry Rabe
Energy & Environment — Are the feds closing the door on climate action? (The Hill)
07/10/2022
Barry Rabe
Is federal government dooming efforts to address climate change? (The Hill)
06/24/2022
Barry Rabe
Governor’s race portends energy future in fossil-heavy Pa. (E&E News)
06/16/2022
Barry Rabe
Why It Could Be a Long Time Before Gas Prices Come Down (Time)
06/09/2022
Barry Rabe
Do Democrats have an EV messaging problem? (E&E News)
05/11/2022
Barry Rabe
Can Congress still pass some of Biden’s climate ideas this year? (Los Angeles Times)
04/26/2022
Barry Rabe
Carbon Cap and Trade Is Set to Start in Pennsylvania—but for How Long? (Scientific American)
04/12/2022
Barry Rabe
Gas Prices Force Biden Into an Unlikely Embrace of Fossil Fuels (The New York Times)
04/08/2022
Barry Rabe
Democrats search for sweet spot on gas prices, climate goals (E&E News)
02/18/2022
Barry Rabe
Democrats hit the road to promote green projects (E&E News)
01/20/2022
Barry Rabe
‘Build Back Better’ Hit a Wall, but Climate Action Could Move Forward (The New York Times)
01/14/2022
Barry Rabe
Some States Are Making Bold Climate Commitments, But Is It Enough? (U.S. News & World Report)
11/18/2021
Barry Rabe
Ignore the buzz, here’s why Enbridge Line 5 won’t likely close anytime soon (Bridge Michigan)
11/02/2021
Barry Rabe
Biden Administration Moves to Limit Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas (The New York Times)
09/17/2021
Barry Rabe
New law sets end dates for fossil-fuel power plants, but Illinois coal mining remains a huge contributor to climate-changing pollution (The Chicago Tribune)
08/27/2021
Barry Rabe
Federal fleet electrification faces delays (E&E News)
06/15/2021
Barry Rabe
Climate conundrum: Tax on emissions is pragmatic but unpopular (The Christian Science Monitor)
04/15/2021
Barry Rabe
Biden wants to buy EVs. Are there enough cars? (E&E News)
04/08/2021
Barry Rabe
Biden's EV plan is enormous. And maybe too small (E&E News)
02/18/2021
Barry Rabe
How a pipeline-loving agency could be the key to Biden’s climate plan (Grist)
01/28/2021
Barry Rabe
General Motors to eliminate gasoline and diesel light-duty cars and SUVs by 2035 (The Washington Post)
12/16/2020
Barry Rabe
What Jennifer Granholm’s appointment as energy secretary means for Michigan (Bridge Magazine)
11/19/2020
Barry Rabe
Biden talked with 14 leaders. He raised climate with 12 (E&E News)
11/17/2020
Barry Rabe
Trump gutted environmental protections. How quickly can Biden restore them? (Grist)
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