Stefan Koester
Stefan Koester was a senior policy analyst with ITIF’s Center for Clean Energy Innovation. He has a background in energy and environmental policy and has worked on carbon pricing, corporate sustainability, energy efficiency, electricity markets, and issues related to the electric power sector and renewable energy at the state, regional, and federal levels.
Prior to joining the ITIF, Stefan worked at Acadia Center, focusing on Northeast energy and environmental regulatory policy. Prior to Acadia Center, Stefan worked at M.J. Bradley & Associates in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a double master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School and urban planning from the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Charleston in economics and philosophy.
Recent Publications
Congress Must Move Beyond Permitting Reform to Speed Up Adoption of Digital Energy Solutions
In Washington, nothing is possible until it’s done. With federal permitting reform, that moment might be just around the corner, but Congress must not miss the opportunity to think beyond procedural reforms to federal permitting laws and should include a broad innovation-based approach to solving our nation’s energy infrastructure dilemmas.
Transforming Global Trade and Development With Digital Technologies
Digital technologies have transformed global commerce and raised living standards. By better aligning global trade rules to foster growth in digital technologies, economic and social benefits can be widely distributed.
Drilling for Clean Energy Innovation
A portion of all new federal royalties from oil and gas drilling leases should go into a dedicated clean energy innovation fund, according to an op-ed written by Stefan Koester.
An Energy Innovation Agenda for the 118th Congress
As we face a divided 118th Congress, policymakers can still find common ground to spur continued growth for American energy innovation.
Midterm Outlook for Energy Innovation Policy
The next Congress will have to wrestle with competing energy and climate innovation policy priorities. But despite their differences, the two parties will have potential opportunities for bipartisan collaboration.
To Innovate, We Need To Build: Permitting Reform Is Innovation Policy
A major challenge to getting clean energy projects built is not technology, financing, or cost uncertainty, but regulatory and permitting hurdles. To fully leverage the once-in-a-generation federal climate spending that this Congress has succeeded in passing, federal permitting must be reformed to make it less onerous, time intensive and costly.
Three Cheers for the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022! Now, Let’s Get Back to Work
Congressional passage of the legislation represents a tremendous step forward toward renewed U.S. industrial competitiveness, science and technology leadership, and greater levels of innovation to tackle pressing economic and social challenges—but it serves as merely the beginning, not the end of progress toward enacting a national competitiveness agenda.
The United States Urgently Needs a Carbon Management Vision
The science of climate change has been clear for decades. The IPCC shows that it is increasingly clear that active carbon management technologies must be in the climate mitigation toolbox. With its wealth of know-how and innovative start-up economy, the United States is well-positioned to dominate this burgeoning global industry and will do so if the federal government has the vision to realize this potential.
Comments to OSTP Regarding the Energy and Climate Implications of Digital Assets
Many popular blockchain technologies consume vast amounts of electricity today, producing millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions and electronic waste. While the environmental and energy concerns for digital assets should be addressed, heavy-handed regulatory policies that attempt to restrict how operators use data centers are likely to be unsuccessful.
Active Carbon Management: Critical Tools in the Climate Toolbox
Technologies to capture and store carbon must be part of the arsenal to fight climate change. To deploy them at scale, policymakers should expand federal incentives, increase RD&D for traditional and novel technologies, and expedite permitting and siting of requisite infrastructure.
Continued Innovation in Renewable Energy Is Not a Given: Public Policy Must Push and Pull
The modeling is clear: Building a reliable grid that will serve as the backbone for a cleaner, more electrified economy without raising energy costs, will require technological improvements that drastically drive down the costs and improve performance.
Comments to the U.S. Department of Energy on Industrial Decarbonization Priorities
U.S. industry does do not yet have all the necessary technology to decarbonize while maintaining its competitive edge in manufacturing. Only with continued federal and private investment in low-carbon RD&D will the United States be able to achieve the twin goals of supporting a robust manufacturing sector while reducing and ultimately eliminating emissions.
Recent Events and Presentations
Permitting Reform: Red Tape to Green Investment
Stefan Koester presented to new House Democratic Caucus staff members on the importance of permitting reform in impacting clean energy policy and innovation.
How 5G Can Spur Climate Tech Innovation
Watch the discussion surrounding the potential climate tech applications of 5G and what is needed going forward to help ensure that this critical infrastructure can facilitate the low-carbon transition.
Active Carbon Management: Critical Tools in the Climate Toolbox
ITIF presented a new report and held an expert panel discussion on the critical role carbon management technologies could play in coming decades and the innovation policies that could turn that promise into reality.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms and Climate-Tech Innovation: A Happy Coupling?
ITIF hosted a discussion on the current state of carbon tariffs, their challenges, and potential multilateral alternatives.