Charles B. Sims

Charles B. Sims is the TVA Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy and Director of the Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. He also holds the rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Economics. His research focuses on environmental and natural resource economics, emphasizing risk and uncertainty in policy decisions. He has collaborated across disciplines with experts in ecology, epidemiology, engineering, and computer science.

Dr. Sims earned a Bachelor’s in Forest Resource Management and a Master’s in Forestry (with a minor in Environmental Policy) from the University of Tennessee, followed by a PhD in Economics from the University of Wyoming.

His research has addressed renewable energy adoption, climate adaptation, invasive species management, and infectious disease dynamics. He was awarded the University of Tennessee’s Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research Award (2022) for collaborative work. Sims serves on TVA advisory groups, supports Tennessee’s energy policy council, and contributed to the state’s water availability plan (TNH20). He co-edits Resource and Energy Economics and previously held editorial roles in technical planning.

He leads the Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy, fostering interdisciplinary solutions to energy and environmental challenges.