Gregory Nemet
Credentials: Professor
Email: gnemet@lafollette.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-265-3469
Address:
209 Observatory Hill Office Building
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

About
Gregory Nemet is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs. He holds the Salzwedel Distinguished Faculty Chair in Business and Regulation and is also a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor. He recently served as Interim Director of the school.
He teaches courses in energy systems analysis, policy analysis, and international environmental policy. From 2013-18 he chaired the Energy Analysis and Policy Certificate program and continues to teach the introductory course for the program.
He leads research projects on energy systems, technological innovation, and climate policy. Much of the work is aimed at understanding the process of technological change and the ways in which public policy can affect it. His work combines empirical analysis of historical trends with forward-looking policy modeling to address global energy challenges. Recent work has focused on solar energy, carbon removal, social innovation, low energy demand, among others.
Nemet’s first book, How Solar Became Cheap: A Model for Low-Carbon Innovation, was published in June 2019 by Routledge. In the book, he makes the case that by understanding the drivers behind solar energy’s success, other low-carbon technologies with similar properties can benefit. The book is currently being translated into Chinese and a second edition, Pathway to a Solar-Centric Economy, will be released in summer 2025.
He was named an Andrew Carnegie Fellow in 2017 and was awarded the inaugural World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance by APPAM in 2019. He was a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 6th Assessment Report (2023). He received his doctorate in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley. His A.B. is in geography and economics from Dartmouth College.
Curriculum vitae (pdf) Pronouns: he/him
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Education
- Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Energy and Resources
- M.A., University of California, Berkeley, Energy and Resources
- A.B., Dartmouth University, Geography with Economics
Courses
Public affairs courses taught by Greg Nemet:
PA 809 Introduction to Energy Analysis and Policy
PA 860 Workshop in International Public Affairs
PA 866 Global Environmental Governance
PA 873 Introduction to Policy Analysis