Xiaochen Sun

Xiaochen Sun is an Assistant Professor of Economics at New Mexico State University's College of Business. His research focuses on energy and environmental economics, examining policy impacts on building efficiency, air pollution, and electricity markets. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University (2024), M.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University (2015), and B.A. in Environmental Economics from Renmin University of China (2013).

His work investigates barriers to renewable energy transition, including transmission interconnection processes and tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. Recent studies include analyzing LEED certification's energy savings in federal buildings and evaluating policy effects on generator interconnection decisions.

• Awards: Winner of 2024 USAEE Young Professional Best Paper Award
• Teaching: Principles of Macroeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Natural Resource Economics

He previously worked at Duke University Energy Initiative and has published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. His research combines econometric models with policy analysis to address energy and environmental challenges.