REMI Client Webinar Series:
Energy and Environmental Policy

The increasing growth of renewable energy opportunities for power networks is rapidly transforming the energy industry. Given the potential for nationwide impacts, energy and environmental policy leaders must understand how communities will be affected as innovation and evolution take hold in energy markets.

We invite you to join us for our REMI Client Webinar Series to be held from Tuesday, January 11 to Tuesday, February 1, 2022. During this four-part webinar series, our expert speakers will explore critical policy questions that guide policy, programs, and analysis in energy and environmental industries.

Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each webinar presentation.

AGENDA

Tuesday, January 11th, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
“Estimating the Economic Impacts of Wind Farms”
[Slides] / [Recording]
Jim Robey, Ph.D.

Tuesday, January 18, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
“Assessing the Economic Value of Recreational Assets”
[Slides] / [Recording]
Luis Nieves-Ruiz

Tuesday, January 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
“Energy-Related Policy Modeling”
[Slides] / [Recording]
Scott Nystrom

Tuesday, February 1, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
“The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Connecticut’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies”
[Slides] / [Recording]
Stan McMillen, Ph.D.

 

SPEAKERS

Jim Robey, Ph.D. is Principal of Robey Analytics, LLC, a professional consulting firm specializing in economic development, workforce development, and site selection services. Jim is an applied economist, economic developer, and site selection consultant with over 30 years of experience. He has worked with corporate, nonprofit, and economic and workforce development organizations in problem-solving, strategy, and policy decision-making from the local to the national levels. His expertise includes industry studies, applied occupational analysis, economic impact analysis, economic impact modeling, economic and workforce development research and analysis, and site selection assistance. Prior experience includes directing regional research initiatives, economic development, and site selection at both nonprofit and for-profit entities. Mr. Robey earned his Ph.D. in Urban Studies, with an emphasis in Economic Development, and his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs.

Luis Nieves-Ruiz serves as Economic Development Manager for the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, a council of governments located in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Nieves-Ruiz’s areas of expertise include economic impact analysis, health, and regional food systems planning, and industry cluster analysis. His professional and volunteer work has been recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida, the Wallace Center at Winrock International, NADO, ULI, Toastmasters International, Next City, and Leadership Florida. Mr. Nieves-Ruiz holds a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Scott Nystrom is a Senior Director at FTI Consulting and is based in McLean, Virginia. Mr. Nystrom is in the Network Industry Strategies (“NIS”) practice within the Economic Consulting segment. He is an expert on macroeconomic, regional, and energy modeling and applies them to policy analysis and economic impact analysis. For the past eight years, Mr. Nystrom has conducted studies related to economic growth, climate, energy, fiscal policy, and demographics for federal agencies, numerous state and local governments, nonprofits, trade associations, utilities, major corporations, and law firms. His areas of research have included energy and the environment, infrastructure, economic development, healthcare, project development, capital investments, labor markets, international trade, and federal/state fiscal policy. Mr. Nystrom earned a Bachelor’s in History, a Bachelor’s in Economics, and a Master’s degree in Economic History from Iowa State University.

Stanley McMillen, Ph.D. is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics and Consultant at the University of Connecticut. He previously retired in 2012 from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development where he was Managing Economist for six years. During his tenure at UCONN, he managed the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis. Dr. McMillen has taught Economics at UCONN, Trinity College, and Connecticut College and does consultant analysis on a variety of economic issues. Prior to joining the UCONN team, he worked in the aerospace, CAD/CAM, and medical device industries for 25 years before obtaining his doctorate in Economics at UCONN in 2005.

The REMI Model: An Analysis of Coastal Resilience

[Recording] The REMI Model: An Analysis of Coastal Resilience – Peter Evangelakis, Ph.D., REMI

Rising sea levels and severe storms pose significant economic risks to coastal regions. On Tuesday, November 16, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Peter Evangelakis, Ph.D., Vice President of Economics and Consulting at Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), will be presenting fo a quest webinar for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Central Library titled “The REMI Model: An Analysis of Coastal Resilience.”

REMI client AECOM worked with Broward County, Florida to develop a report analyzing the coastal hazards facing the business community of Dania Beach, Florida. Researchers also evaluated the economic benefits from adaption actions that mitigate future coastal hazards to the City’s commercial core. In addition to consideration of the costs and benefits of protective investments to reduce future hazard risks, it is also important to consider the opportunities for advancing economic resilience in communities like Dania Beach. This study illustrates that advancing economic resilience requires action by both the public and private sectors at various geographic scales while explaining that both communities have a shared interest in partnering on this front.

During this discussion, Dr. Evangelakis will review the AECOM study “Dania Beach: Economic Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms.” This presentation will include a live model demonstration that illustrates how the REMI model can forecast the economic costs that could occur from failing to act to protect businesses in places such as Dania Beach from future storm surge and sea-level rise impacts.

REMI is inspired by a single goal: improving public policies. Founded in 1980, REMI has sought to improve public policy through economic modeling software that informs policies impacting our day-to-day lives. The REMI model is the premier software solution for modeling the economic and demographic effects of policy changes. Their experience and development efforts have resulted in a comprehensive model that answers “what if…?” questions about any economy. Decision-makers and analysts rely on the REMI model to validate their economic impact studies in areas such as energy and environment, economic development, transportation, taxation, and many more.

Included in this discussion will be an overview of the features and licensing details of the REMI model and more information about how the REMI model can be an asset to your organization.

Guiding Policy through Economic Modeling: Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) and Regional Development

[Slides] Guiding Policy through Economic Modeling: Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) and Regional Development – Katy Koon, REMI

[Recording] Guiding Policy through Economic Modeling: Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) and Regional Development – Katy Koon, REMI

Public policy aims to serve the best interests of the public. To achieve this goal, policymakers and planners need to evaluate legislation to ensure that the benefits of economic prosperity are broad-based.

We invite you to join us for “Guiding Policy through Economic Modeling: Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) and Regional Development,” our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, November 2, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (ET).

This presentation will provide an overview of “Using Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) in Regional Economic Modeling,” a study that presents the methodology and sample applications for standardized socioeconomic indicators (SEI) that provide metrics for understanding the distributional impacts of public policies.

Using the REMI PI+/SEI macroeconomic policy analysis model, this discussion will consider two policy scenarios in a simulation context. First, I will analyze current COVID-driven migration challenges facing state and local governments.

Second, I will evaluate a workforce and regional economic development scenario to understand a state apprenticeship program. Both simulations will demonstrate the value of implementing standardized metrics for SEI in economic modeling through distributional analyses.

Post-pandemic Project Prioritization: How Economic Modeling Assess Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) for Long-term Planning

[Slides] Post-pandemic Project Prioritization – Guyesha Blackshear & Jim Stewart, REMI

[Recording] Post-pandemic Project Prioritization – Guyesha Blackshear & Jim Stewart, REMI

An essential element of the local, state and regional planning processes are effective project prioritization. Therefore, planners must consider the distribution of long-term economic effects on all members of the regional population.

We invite you to join us for “Post-pandemic Project Prioritization: How Economic Modeling Assess Socioeconomic Indicators (SEI) for Long-term Planning,” our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 12, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (ET).

This presentation will demonstrate how economic modeling can forecast the varying long-term impacts of project prioritization on employment, output, and economic growth on different socioeconomic groups.

Exploring the Economic Significance of Integrating Ride-sharing and Public Transport

[Slides] Exploring the Economic Significance of Integrating Ride-sharing and Public Transport – May Lin & Jim Stewart, REMI

[Recording] Exploring the Economic Significance of Integrating Ride-sharing and Public Transport – May Lin & Jim Stewart, REMI

Departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are evaluating how ride-sharing conglomerations and travel alternatives offer individuals more options for public transportation. The important task of adapting current and future transportation plans to the realities of present lifestyles is essential to prioritizing and reallocating public transit resources.

We invite you to join us for “Exploring the Economic Significance of Integrating Ride-sharing and Public Transport,” our upcoming webinar Thursday, October 7 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (ET).

As the economic recovery continues to reach more and more regions in the United States, special attention must be paid to how analysis can be used to effectively allocate federal, state, and local resources to maximize economic growth.

During this presentation, we will use the REMI economic model to examine how urban mobility affects vehicle ownership, revenue, market share, and economic development.