Marilyn A. Brown

Marilyn A. Brown is a Regents' and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy (part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts). She leads the Climate and Energy Policy Laboratory (CEPL) and contributes to initiatives like the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. Her work focuses on accelerating sustainable energy technologies through policy analysis, with emphasis on utility regulation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.

Education:

• Ph.D., Ohio State University - Geography
• M.R.P., University of Massachusetts - Regional Planning
• B.A., Rutgers University - Political Science

Research & Expertise: Brown’s research bridges energy policy, environmental economics, and utility systems. She explores policy mechanisms for decarbonization, equitable energy access, and grid modernization. Notable contributions include books like Fact and Fiction in Global Energy Policy (2016) and Green Savings (2015), and over 250 publications. Key areas include renewable energy integration, smart grids, and energy equity.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2020: Member of the National Academy of Engineering and Sciences
• 2017: Regents’ Professor
• 2016: Alliance to Save Energy 'Star of Energy Efficiency'
• 2010-2017: Presidential Appointee, Tennessee Valley Authority Board

Advising & Grants: Brown has advised federal agencies, testified before Congress, and led projects for organizations like the National Academies and DOE. Her grants support initiatives such as the Drawdown Georgia partnership and equity-focused energy programs. She co-founded the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance and served on boards of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Alliance to Save Energy.

Labs & Teams: Directs CEPL, which models energy transitions, evaluates policy impacts, and develops tools like the GT-DSM and GT-Solar calculators. CEPL’s work spans energy modeling, equity analysis, and global decarbonization strategies.