Clifton Yin
Former Policy Analyst
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Clifton Yin was a Clean Energy Policy Analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Prior to joining ITIF, he earned a Master of Public Policy degree with a focus on environmental and regulatory policy from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute. His master’s thesis sought to use statistical analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard on encouraging in-state renewable energy generation. While a graduate student, Clifton served as a policy fellow at Americans for Energy Leadership and interned at the Environmental Defense Fund and the American Enterprise Institute.
Clifton has also worked for California State Assemblyman Bob Huff – first as a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow, and then as a Legislative Assistant – as well as the Bovée Company, a small political fundraising firm. He has a B.A. in government and history from Claremont McKenna College and served as the youngest Asian-American delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Research Areas
Recent Publications
Ernest Moniz’ Confirmation Hearing Underscores Importance of Innovation
The Energy Secretary nominee talked at length about the need for robust energy innovation policy.
Fear Not, Australia Cabinet Merger is Actually Better For Climate Change Mitigation
The merger of two Australian departments is a welcome recognition that innovation policy and climate change mitigation are linked.
Strengthening America’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Capability
The Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative is a significant first step on the path to a robust U.S. clean energy manufacturing sector.
ARPA-E Expands Pursuit of Transportation Decarbonization
ARPA-E programs signals emerging government recognition of the importance of transportation decarbonization and the need for transportation technologies to facilitate that endeavor.
Policymakers Share Common Ground on Energy Revenue, But Can They Deliver?
The FAIR Act signals growing interest in linking energy production to energy innovation.
Energy Security Trust Fund an Important Policy Pilot for Supporting Innovation
Proposal for tying transportation R&D to a dedicated revenue source could be a model for funding energy innovation.
Innovation Partnerships Will Only Grow in Importance
Collaboration between startups and large energy companies could prove crucial.
ARPA-E’s RANGE Program Will Boost Battery Innovation
Renewed focus on battery innovation is what's needed for EV adoption.
Unanswered EI 2013 Questions on Nuclear and Energy Storage
Panelists from ITIF’s Energy Innovation 2013 conference respond to a few unanswered audience questions.
Highlights of Senator Murkowski’s Energy 20/20 Policy Blueprint
Energy 20/20 includes several policy recommendations that mirror ITIF’s own.
It’s Global Warming, Not Just American Warming
Solving climate change will require the adoption of clean energy globally.
Looking Back at the Tenure of Energy Secretary Steven Chu
A look at the Energy Department’s challenges and accomplishments over the past four years and the work that remains to be done.
