Patrick O’Rourke is a PhD student at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, specializing in energy and climate policy. Currently his focus is on clean hydrogen’s ability to contribute to decarbonization and how policymakers can facilitate the diffusion of relevant hydrogen-based technologies. His research also hopes to evaluate how the energy carrier may impact other societal goals (e.g., food security and water availability, energy security, non-greenhouse gas air pollution mitigation, and environmental justice).
Patrick works within the School of Public Policy’s Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) and as a ‘PhD Intern – Hydrogen Policy Modeling’ for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Joint Global Change Research Institute (PNNL-JGCRI). Prior to enrolling as a PhD student, Patrick was also employed by PNNL-JGCRI as a Post Masters Research Associate in Climate and Energy Research Analysis. His work often utilizes the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM), where he simulates various energy transition pathways through the end of the century. He holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the university’s School of Public Policy where he dual specialized in Energy as well as Social Policy, and a B.A. in Political Science from Wake Forest University.
- Energy & climate policy