Kristin Igusky

Associate

Bio

Kristin Igusky is an Associate in the Global Climate Program. Her work focuses on analyzing policies, programs, and other mechanisms across all levels of government that will help accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy in the United States. This includes options for getting cleaner vehicles on the road, refocusing the U.S. transportation system to reduce congestion and make communities more connected, increasing the flexibility of the power grid system to support more clean energy, and making buildings and manufacturing facilities more energy efficient.

Prior to joining WRI, Kristin worked with SAIC’s climate change services team where she focused on a wide-range of GHG management projects for federal government agencies, local governments, and private sector entities. Projects included supporting the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s national inventory of greenhouse gases, EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and the EPA Climate Leaders Program, researching issues related to new and existing carbon offsets project types, and developing community-level GHG inventories for cities and counties across the country.

Kristin holds a B.S. in environmental studies from Gettysburg College and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University, where she focused on global environmental change.

Blog Posts

Trump’s Budget Blueprint Goes Backwards on Urgent Infrastructure Needs
by Sam Adams, Kristin Igusky and Tyler Clevenger - May 18, 2017
The Trump administration's "skinny" budget is poised to make the nation’s infrastructure even less sustainable. Will the full budget, expected to be released next week, reverse course?
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Institute Misleads on Climate Action Costs: 3 Things to Know
by Noah Kaufman, Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - April 26, 2017
A recent article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy uses a NERA Economic Consulting study as evidence that meeting U.S. climate change commitments will cause economic hardship, particularly in the manufacturing sector. WRI researchers found that the Chamber’s conclusions are based on a decarbonization pathway that is unrealistic and unnecessarily costly.
A Deeper Look at Trump’s Climate Action “Sledgehammer”
by Kristin Igusky and Rebecca Gasper - March 29, 2017
President Donald Trump's latest executive order aims to roll back many of the core elements of U.S. climate strategy, a move that threatens America's health and the country's economic prosperity. Here are details of the order's major provisions and their potential impact.
4 Reasons Why the Trump Administration Should Keep Fuel Standards in Place
by Kristin Igusky - March 14, 2017
Fuel efficiency standards save Americans money at the pump while cutting pollution and helping automakers stay competitive. Yet the Trump administration is on the verge of calling for their review.
3 Steps Wisconsin Can Take To Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - May 11, 2016
New WRI analysis shows that Wisconsin can reduce its power sector emissions 21 percent below 2012 levels by 2030 just by following through on existing clean energy policies and making more efficient use of power plants. With a few additional steps, the state can far exceed the emissions reductions required by the Clean Power Plan.
Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps
by Kristin Igusky - April 28, 2016
While the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), it’s in states’ own best interests to continue moving forward with compliance. New analysis finds Illinois can get 75 percent of the way to its CPP emissions-reduction target just through its existing clean energy policies and opportunities.
4 Reasons States and Utilities Should Continue Reducing Power Emissions, Despite Clean Power Plan Stay
by Kristin Igusky - February 26, 2016
EPA is continuing to provide states with the tools and support to reduce their power sector emissions, and many states and utilities have said they will continue their plans to comply with the Clean Power Plan despite the recent stay.
6 Steps the Obama Administration Can Take in 2016 to Cement its Climate Legacy
by Kristin Igusky, C. Forbes Tompkins, David Waskow and Sam Adams - January 13, 2016
In his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama ranked the importance of a climate change strategy on a par with national security, economic equality and a more effective political process. Here are six steps his administration can take this year to cement its climate legacy.
3 Steps Missouri Can Take to Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - January 07, 2016
WRI’s fact sheet series, How States Can Meet Their Clean Power Plan Targets, examines the ways states can meet or even exceed their standards under the Clean Power Plan while minimizing compliance costs, ensuring reliability, and harnessing economic opportunities....
5 Reasons Why US Climate Progress Will Continue Long After Paris
by Kristin Igusky and Kevin Kennedy - November 18, 2015
While the United States has received criticism in the past for lackluster climate action, recent evidence shows the country is ramping up its ambition—progress that will likely last well beyond COP 21 in Paris.