Sharon Klein (energy research)

<p>Sharon Klein is an Associate  Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Maine. Sharon's research and teaching are multi-disciplinary in nature, centering on the technical, economic, environmental and social trade-offs inherent in the production, distribution, and use of energy. With her research team, she has created a database of <a href="https://www.communityenergyus.net/" target="_blank">U.S. community-based renewable energy projects</a>.</p><p>Prior to her career in higher education, Sharon worked as a high school environmental systems teacher in Quito, Ecuador; a middle school science teacher in San Diego, CA; an environmental technician in San Diego; and an Americorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteer in the Southeast region of the US</p><p>Sharon was a part of the 2015, 2018, and 2019 Maine Science Festivals, and presented at the <a href="https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/msf-showcase-events/" target="_blank">MSF Showcase Event</a> <i>5 Minute Genius</i> in 2018. You can <a href="https://bit.ly/32etjX2" target="_blank">see her video</a> at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClMpumvhoSneE-vV2ZiXCzg" target="_blank">MSF YouTube channel</a>.</p><p>You can learn more about Sharon's work at her University of Maine <a href="https://umaine.edu/soe/klein/" target="_blank">website</a>. </p><p>If you'd like to see the graph that Sharon mentioned comparing renewable energy to fossil fuels, it can be found in the paper <i>Comparing the sustainability of U.S. electricity options through multi-criteria decision analysis</i> at  <a href="https://bit.ly/33jkGd5" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/33jkGd5</a>. Sharon also noted "I am very grateful for the support I have received from these funding sources for my community solar and window insert research: 2 Community Energy grants (2016 and 2017) from the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and ongoing support from the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch projects 02