Brief biographical note[edit | edit source]
Tom Stanton is an independent clean energy policy consultant. He is founder and principal researcher for Community Energy Solutions, LLC, which is a newly formed Michigan company.
Mr. Stanton was previously Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment, at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI), where he worked from fall 2010 until NRRI's permanent closure on June 30, 2022. NRRI provided regulatory policy research and educational services for the 50 states and U.S. territory agencies that are responsible for public utility regulation, like the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Tom specialized in policy research for distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, renewable energy, grid modernization, and global climate change. A life-long resident of Michigan, prior to joining NRRI Tom worked for Michigan state government for over 32 years, with 10 years at the State Energy Office and over 22 years as a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission Staff.
Mr. Stanton has been an instructor in both in-person and internet-based NRRI training events and related workshops or conferences in over a dozen states and multiple countries. Tom has been an adjunct professor at both Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, where he has been an instructor for both graduate and undergraduate college courses. Tom is presently a member of the Board of Directors for the Capital Area Friends of the Environment (517cafe.org), a mid-Michigan environmental advocacy group.
Mr. Stanton earned a B.A. in Communications and M.A. in Journalism, both from Michigan State University, and an M.S. in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.
Current Appropedia interests and projects[edit | edit source]
- Agrivoltaics
- Community Benefits Planning and Community Benefits Agreements
- Community Resilience Hubs
- Community Solar
- ConservationEconomy.net
- Ecovillages & Intentional Communities Energy and Climate Action Research Project [New June 2023]
- Energy Equity (energy democracy, energy citizenship, community-based energy, energy communities)
- Equity Crowd Investing
- Floatovoltaics
- Geospatial Energy Mapper program ("GEM"), previously known as the Energy Zones Mapping Tool.
- Grid Architecture for Energy Ladder Products and Services [New September 2023]
- Open Source Development of solar energy and “energy ladder” projects and services. See To Catch the Sun.
- Virtual Power Plants
Current research interests and projects[edit | edit source]
- Ecovillages and Intentional Communities.
- Planning committee member for 2024 Global Ecovillage Network Europe "gathering and expo," August 20-25 in Sweden. See https://ecovillagegathering.org/ and https://gen-europe.org/call-for-workshops-for-the-2024-european-ecovillage-gathering/
- Working to design Ecovillage and Intentional Community touring ideas for Michigan (contact me for details).
- Effects of Daylight Savings Time on electricity supply and demand, particularly solar energy. Initial focus on Michigan options, but open to studying case studies from all geographies.
- Greenhouse Gas Offsets standards, certifications, and accounting, and beneficial uses for greenhouse gases
- Michigan Good Food Network and food waste roadmap. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-good-food-charter https://www.canr.msu.edu/michiganfood/summit/
- Microgrid and remote mini-grid policies for utilities and their regulatory authorities
- Public utility regulatory innovations platforms. Regulatory Innovations Platforms for Public Utilities, 2023 Report for NARUC Regulatory Training Initiative, https://pubs.naruc.org/pub/1A227DC9-F406-1BAC-E7E6-89C1BD0DDDE9?mc_cid=329a1801ee&mc_eid=6dafbe97e0
- Participant in National Community Solar Partnership (US DOE and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on-line community with 1,975 registered participants as of 26 February 2024)
- Member of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study committee, 2022-2023, for U.S. Congress: New: Report published June 2023. https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/the-role-of-net-metering-in-the-evolving-electricity-system
- Virtual Power Plants: Studying options for Virtual Power Plants to create maximum value and lower costs for localized food-energy-water systems. Please see: Virtual power plants.
Major interests[edit | edit source]
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of primary interest and emphasis:
- Donut Economics
- The Natural Step -- link to Canadian Chapter because they have good information introducing the concepts and good sources for additional information
- Open Space Technology, system for meetings where participants self-organize quickly and work together to accomplish priority tasks
- Pattern Languages:
- Architecture 2030 design palette -- Architecture 2030 and 2030 Districts
- PatternLanguage.com
- Pattern Language for a Conservation Economy a.k.a. Reliable Prosperity
- Other Pattern Languages, a directory curated by Group Works Group Pattern Language Project
Links[edit | edit source]
- Academia.edu — https://nrri.academia.edu/TomStanton
- LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/in/tsstanton/
- Researchgate.net — https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tom-Stanton-2
Affiliations[edit | edit source]
- Appropriate Technology Collaborative -- volunteer, contributor, supporter
- Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association -- Member. 2023 to present, member of Education Committee.
- Michigan Energy Options -- former board member (1991-2005); current supporter.
Friends and colleagues who are also Appropedia Contributors[edit | edit source]
- Western University [London, Ontario, Canada] Professor Joshua M. Pearce