Ross Astoria: Research and Creative Activity Award

Ross Astoria, J.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of Political Science & Law at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Dr. Astoria grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and lived in Virginia, Arizona, California, and Wisconsin. Dr. Astoria has multiple areas of expertise, including Carbon Taxation, Clean Air Act, and Electrical Utility Law. He teaches courses in Public Law, Public Policy, and Political Philosophy, including Constitutional Law, Introduction to Law, Political Theory, and Environmental and Global Warming Policy.

Dr. Astoria’s research is in global warming policy and governance. In addition, Dr. Astoria regularly provides policy advice to non-profits working on greenhouse gas mitigation policy. At the end of November 2018 and again in January 2019, a bipartisan group of Members of the House introduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Divided Act (EICDA). The legislation prices carbon dioxide pollution along the lines suggested by the theory of Pigouvian taxation, returns the revenues to households in the form of a dividend check, and includes a border carbon adjustment complaint with international trade law. EICDA also includes language adjusting the Clean Air Acts regulatory framework on carbon dioxide emissions. Professor Astoria was lead textual consultant on EICDA, and wrote all of it except for its regulatory reform language. In addition to his published works, this effort constituted some 2,000+ pro bono hours of legal and policy analysis over the past 4 years. In the 3 months since its re-introduction, 27 members of Congress have co-sponsored EICDA.

Professor Astoria has continued to publish in academic journals and books, as well. He published on the interaction of carbon pricing and international trade law, utility law and more. Furthermore, Professor Astoria wrote a chapter on enhancing low- and moderate-income household’s access to renewable assets during the transition to renewable energy technologies in Low Income Households in New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision, published in 2019. He also wrote an article titled “The Radicality of New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision” in The Electricity Journal in 2017.

Not only that, but Professor Astoria has also served on the General Education Committee and was the chairperson for the Lecture and Fine Arts Committee.

Congratulations, Ross Astoria!