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About Stephanie Lenhart

Stephanie Lenhart is a Senior Research Associate in the Energy Policy Institute affiliated with the Center for Advanced Energy Research and an Assistant Research Professor in the Public Policy and Administration program and the Environmental Studies program, both with the School of Public Service at Boise State University. Dr. Lenhart examines institutional design, stakeholder participation, policy implementation, and the negotiation of authority. Recent work explores the governance of electricity systems and the exercise of power and agency in energy transitions with a focus on regional transmission organizations, consumer-owned distribution utilities, and grid integration of storage and other distributed energy resources. Before joining Boise State, she served as Director of Cabinet Affairs for the New Mexico Office of the Governor and Senior Policy Analyst for the New Mexico Secretary of Finance and Administration. Previously, she worked in environmental consulting specializing in climate change assessment and regulatory analysis. Dr. Lenhart holds an MPP from the University of California at Berkeley and a BA in Government and Economics from Cornell University.

Positions

2018 - Present Assistant Research Professor, Boise State University School of Public Service
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2017 - 2018 Visiting Assistant Professor, Boise State University
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Grants

2022 - 2022 Institutional Design Innovation for Power System Reliability as the Grid Decarbonizes
National Science Foundation Strengthening American Infrastructure Program - 2228697
Role: PI
Colleague(s): Seth Blumsack, Penn State and David Newman, University of Alaska-Fairbanks
$148,728
2022 - 2022 Regional Transmission Organization Governance and Community Outcomes
Sloan Foundation and Heising-Simon Foundation
Role: Co-PI
Colleague(s): Seth Blumsack, Penn State
$1,200,000
2022 - 2022 Research Team-Building Workshop on Institutional Design and Policy Innovations for Idaho’s Off-Grid Zero-Carbon Energy Challenges: An Engaged Demonstration with Zena Creek Ranch
Boise State University - RC0085
School of Public Service Research Grant
$2,000
2019 - 2019 Regional Transmission Organization Governance and Market Outcomes
Sloan Foundation and Heising-Simon Foundation
Role: Core Researcher Managing Comparative Task Area
Colleague(s): Kate Konschnik, Jen Chen, and Brian Murray, Duke University; Seth Blumsack, Penn State; and Lincoln Davies, Ohio State
$660,000
2019 - 2019 Value of Power System Stability Services, with Emphasis on Valuation of Proposed Pumped Storage Hydropower
Idaho National Laboratory
Role: PI
Colleague(s): Dakota Roberson, University of Idaho; Kathleen Araújo and John Stubban Boise State University
$49,900
2018 - 2018 Distributed Energy and Community Solar in MN Munis Co-ops
McKnight Foundation via UMN
Role: Co-PI
Colleague(s): Gabriel Chan, University of Minnesota and Elizabeth Wilson, Dartmouth College
$100,000
2018 - 2018 Factors and Decision-making in U.S. Microgrid/Combined Heat and Power Adoption
Energy Policy Institute
Role: Co-PI
Colleague(s): PI Kathleen Araújo, Boise State University
$
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2017 - Present Member, Association for Public Policy & Management
2018 Member, American Solar Energy Society
2017 Member, Industry Studies Association
2014 Member, Industry Studies Association
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Education

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Ph.D. - Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University
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M.P.P., University of California - Berkeley ‐ Goldman School of Public Policy
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B.A. - Economics, Government, Cornell University ‐ School of Arts and Sciences
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Articles (6)

Contributions to Books (3)

Public-Facing Publications (6)

Includes technical/policy briefs, comments and blog posts

Presentations (3)