Carley

Sanya Carley

Associate Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
Chapter Member: Indiana SSN

About Sanya

Carley's research and teaching focuses primarily on energy policy, including both electricity and transportation policy, and the effects, effectiveness, and unintended consequences of various energy policies. She also researches energy-based economic development, business and industry sustainability, and public perceptions of emerging energy technologies and infrastructure such as electric vehicles, transmission and distribution, and wind turbines.

In the News

Sanya Carley quoted on Covid is revealing or exacerbating some deep-rooted inequalities by Dino Grandoni, "Congress Under Pressure As States Lift Electricity Shut-Off Bans During Coronavirus Crisis" The Washington Post, August 6, 2020.
Sanya Carley's research on tailpipe emissions policy discussed by Dino Grandoni, "The Energy 202: EPA's Own Adviser Finds Trump's Rollback of Car Rules Could Cost Jobs," The Washington Post, April 2, 2019.
Sanya Carley's research on sustainable brewing discussed by Rachel Cohen, "Good News for 'Green' Brews: Consumers Say They'll Pay More for Sustainable Beer," Alabama Public Radio, October 13, 2018.
Sanya Carley quoted on the effects of green energy by Claudia Geib, "Green Energy: Good for the Planet, Bad for Fossil Fuel Workers" Futurism, May 9, 2018.
Sanya Carley quoted on the effects of clean energy policies by Jim Hanchett, "Vulnerable Communities May Be Adversely Affected by the Transition to Cleaner Energy" EurekAlert!, May 7, 2018.
Sanya Carley quoted by Julia Conley, "Trump's Insistence on Coal Revival Finds Pushback Even in Coal Country" Common Dreams, November 28, 2017.
Sanya Carley quoted , "Efforts to Revive Coal Industry Unlikely to Work, May Slow Job Growth" Science Daily, October 27, 2017.
Sanya Carley quoted by Mark J. Perry, "Should we Keep Fuel Economy Standards from the Obama-Era?" Tri-City Herald, October 5, 2017.
"Mandates Help Motorists, Economy in Long Run," Sanya Carley, Newsday, October 5, 2017.
Sanya Carley quoted on incentives to buy plug-in electric vehicles by Eric Loveday, "U.S. Cities Ranked for Plug-in Electric Car Readiness—Portland Takes Top Spot" Inside EVs, January 12, 2017.
Sanya Carley's research on why governments promote electric vehicles discussed by "How Politicians Plug Electric Cars," Freakonomics, July 24, 2016.
Sanya Carley quoted by Richie Bernardo, "2015 Most & Least Energy-Expensive States" WalletHub, July 13, 2016.
"Sustainable Manufacturing Makes Cents," Sanya Carley (with Jerry Jasinowski), Manufacturing Leadership Journal, August 2014.
Sanya Carley's research on Not In (or Under) My Backyard: Geographic Proximity and Public Acceptance of Carbon Capture and Storage Facilities discussed by "Residents Weigh Global Benefits and Local Risks in Views of Climate Change Measures," Society for Risk Analysis, October 30, 2013.
Guest to discuss Consumer Attitude and Electric Cars on Academic Minute, Inside Higher Ed, Sanya Carley, March 14, 2013.
Sanya Carley quoted on environmental imaging and marketing for electric cars, "American Drivers Not Interested in Electric Cars" CBS News, January 7, 2013.
Sanya Carley quoted on survey of 2,300 adult drivers in the United States by Christopher F. Schuetze, "Will 2013 be the Year of the Electric Car?" New York Times, January 7, 2013.
Sanya Carley's research on ignorance and apathy surrounding electric vehicles discussed by Bradley Berman, "Car Buyers Lack Interest in Electric Cars, Study Says," New York Times, December 26, 2012.
"'Green Energy' Is the Best Route to Profitable Public Investment," Sanya Carley (with Martin Hyman), McClatchy papers, including the Miami Herald, Kansas City Star, and the Sacramento Bee (Also printed in 37 other U.S. news outlets)., January 12, 2012.

Publications

"Busting the Myths Around Public Investment in Clean Energy" (with Jonas Meckling, Joseph Aldy, Matthew J. Kotchen, Daniel C. Esty, Peter A. Raymond, Bella Tonkonogy, Charles Harper, Gillian Sawyer, and Julia Sweatman). Nature Energy 7 (2022): 563–565 .

Discusses critics having opposed clean energy public investment by claiming that governments must not pick winners, green subsidies enable rent-seeking behaviour, and failed companies means failed policy.

"Empirical Evaluation of the Stringency and Design of Renewable Portfolio Standards" (with Lincoln L. Davies, David B. Spence, and Nikolaos Zirogiannis ). Nature Energy (2018).

Explains how changes in renewable portfolio standard policy design features relate to different market outcomes.

"Global Expansion of Renewable Energy Generation: An Analysis of Policy Instruments" (with Elizabeth Baldwin, Lauren M. MacLean, and Jennifer N. Brass). Environmental and Resource Economics (2016): 1-44.

Examines two prominent renewable electricity policies used across the world: the renewable portfolio standard and the feed-in tariff. Finds that, while both policies are associated with renewable electricity growth, a renewable portfolio standard is particularly important.

"Effects of Providing Total Cost of Ownership Information on Consumers' Intent to Purchase a Hybrid or Plug-in Electric Vehicle" (with Jerome Dumortier, Saba Siddiki, Joshua Cisney, Rachel M. Krause, Bradley W. Lane, John A. Rupp, and John D. Graham). Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 72 (2015): 71-86.

Evaluates information provided on Environmental Protection Agency labels on new cars through a randomized survey experiment. Finds that new information provided by the agency on fuel savings is not enough, and that monthly total cost of ownership figures are necessary to get consumers to want to buy fuel-saving and alternative fuel vehicles.

"Capacity, Guidance, and the Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (with Sean Nicholson-Crotty and Eric J. Fisher). Public Administration Review 75, no. 1 (2015): 113-125.

Evaluates the importance of government capacity in the implementation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 energy programs. Finds that administrative capacity was crucial to successful implementation.

"Energy-based Economic Development: How Clean Energy Can Drive Development and Stimulate Economic Growth" (with Sara Lawrence) (Springer, 2014).

Presents the notion of energy-based economic development, which is development that simultaneously pursues low-carbon, efficiency, and advanced energy goals, and economic development and growth goals. Explores policies, evaluation guidelines, and case studies.

"Energy Demand-side Management: New Perspectives for a New Era" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 31, no. 1 (2012): 6-32.

Evaluates U.S. utility demand side management programs and finds that money spent on these programs have led to significant electricity savings across the country.

"State Renewable Energy Electricity Policies: An Empirical Evaluation of Effectiveness" Energy Policy 37, no. 8 (2009): 3071-3081.

Examines renewable portfolio standards used across the U.S. and finds that those states with this policy have, on average, much higher levels of renewable electricity deployment than those without, but the percentage of renewable to total electricity in states with the policy is not statistically different to those without the policy.