Nicole Robillard Wobus

While pursuing her Master's degree in environmental policy at Tufts University, Nicole Robillard focuses on the link between energy use and the environment. Building on her experience as an Account Manager for EPA's Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights Partnership, Nicole currently works as the Technology Director for the Tufts Climate Initiative; a project based on the University's commitment to meet the Kyoto Protocol target for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Nicole collaborates with the Tufts Facilities Department to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across all three Tufts campuses. Her efforts will help institutionalize greater environmental consciousness in energy related decision-making at Tufts, and will contribute to a practical model for other universities. Using Massachusetts as a laboratory, Nicole's thesis will identify elements that can make electric utility restructuring more favorable for growing the clean energy market. The Massachusetts Electric Utility Restructuring Act introduces mechanisms intended to promote renewable energy use among consumers. By exploring the application of such provisions, Nicole hopes to generate insights that will benefit Massachusetts' communities, as well as environmental advocates in other states as they help shape their own electric utility restructuring legislation. Nicole is a New Hampshire native and received her Bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College.