McCone Building
Email Address
jim.williams@miis.edu
Phone Number
831.647.6426
Language(s)
中文
Related Links
Latest Article: The Technology Path to Deep Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts by 2050
Jim Williams
Associate Professor
Jim Williams has worked in the energy and climate change field for more than 20 years, as an academic researcher, teacher, consultant, and practitioner. Before joining our faculty, he worked at Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) where he was lead analyst on the E3 team modeling implementation of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) for California state agencies. Jim is a specialist in regulatory policy and clean energy technologies for electric power systems, with experience in carbon market design, renewable generation and transmission, energy efficiency and demand response, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, energy storage, and distribution automation.
During the 2000-2001 California electricity crisis, Professor Williams managed the electrical demand reduction program for the 38-campus University of California-California State University system. From 1997-2000, he managed the North Korea energy program of the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development, leading an engineering team that electrified a North Korean village using wind energy. Previously, he created and directed the Native American Renewable Energy Education Project, a program of the US Department of Energy to facilitate sustainable energy development for American Indian tribes.
He received his MS and PhD from UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group, where his dissertation topic was the history of science policy in China during the Mao era. Dr. Willliams continues to serve as a part-time lecturer at UC Berkeley, where he has taught and advised graduate students since 1995. He received his BS in Physics from Washington and Lee University. Professor Williams has organized and led numerous academic conferences and workshops, including an international conference on the US, China, and Climate Change at UC Berkeley in 2006. He has also served as guest editor for special issues of Chinese Studies in Philosophy, History of the Physical and Biological Sciences, and Pacific Affairs.
Dr. William's current academic research focuses on US and international climate change policy. He continues to research the political economy of energy markets and regulation in developing countries, including China. Other topics include unification of the electricity grids of Northeast Asia and the energy economy of North Korea.
Recent Accomplishments
Over the last year, Jim Williams continued his research on the long-term technology pathways and infrastructure transformations needed to achieve a decarbonized economy by 2050, and gave invited presentations on the results to researchers and officials in Sacramento, Brussels, Zurich, and Beijing, and to university audiences in Berkeley, Stanford, and Monterey. Jim co-authored an analysis of “Plan B” climate policy options in the wake of the failure of cap-and-trade legislation in the US congress, and went to Washington at the invitation of Sen. Jeff Bingaman to brief the senator and his staff on our recommendations.
On the China front, in work funded by the Energy Foundation, Jim’s team, including IEP alumna Ding Ding (MAIEP 2010), worked closely with an analysis team from China’s State Electricity Regulatory Commission on technical and policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from China’s electricity sector. The team also developed a Chinese-language software tool for use in planning energy efficiency programs, and led a multi-day workshop in Beijing to teach the use of the tool to more than fifty government agency and grid company analysts.
Taking a step back from the hands-on work, the team gave an invited presentation called “Electricity with Chinese Characteristics” at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum, focusing on the US role in China’s energy future, with co-presenter Jon Wellinghof, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. View a webcast of the presentation.
At the Monterey Institute, in Fall 2009 Jim created a new course, “Greening the Grid: the Present, Past, and Future of Electric Power Systems,” and in Spring 2010 created an advanced energy research seminar. Starting from scratch and conducted mostly by the students themselves with light-handed guidance, the research seminar produced a scholarly paper analyzing the cost of greenhouse gas mitigation achieved through water conservation measures—low relative to many other forms of mitigation— that has been submitted to a leading scientific journal. The research seminar also took more than 25 field trips to power plants, grid operations centers, venture capital firms, national laboratories, environmental agencies, regulatory bodies, high technology companies, and water desalination plants, which led to summer internships and/or long-term employment prospects for several members of the class.
Expertise
Interdisciplinary energy and environmental analysis, political economy of energy, science and technology policy, energy resources and policy, climate change policy, electric power systems, engineering-economic modeling, Asian energy
Education
PhD and MS, Energy and Resources, UC Berkeley. BS, Physics, Washington and Lee University.
Publications
Mahone. A., C.K. Woo, J.H. Williams, I. Horowitz (2009), Renewable portfolio standards and cost-effective energy-efficiency investment, Energy Policy, 37, 774-777.
Williams, J.H. and F. Kahrl (2008), Electricity reform and sustainable development in China, Environmental Research Letters, 3, 044009 1-14.
Von Hippel, D., P. Hayes, J.H.Williams, C. Greacen, M. Sagrillo, and T. Savage, “International Energy Assistance Needs and Options for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” Energy Policy, 36 (2008) 541–552.
Orans, R., S. Price, J.H. Williams, and C.K. Woo, “A Northern California-British Columbia Partnership for Renewable Energy,” Energy Policy, 35: 8 (2007) 3979-3983.
Williams, J.H. and R. Ghanadan, “Electricity Reform in Developing and Transition Countries: A Reappraisal,” Energy 31:6-7 (2006) 815-844.
Dubash, N. and J.H. Williams, “The Political Economy of Electricity Liberalization.” In John Byrne et al., eds., Transforming Power: Energy as a Social Project, Energy and Environmental Policy Series, Vol. 9, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers (2006).
Williams, J.H. and N. Dubash, “Asian Electricity Reform in Historical Perspective,” Pacific Affairs 77:3 (2004) 411-436.
Williams, J.H. and N. Dubash, “The Political Economy of Electricity Reform in Asia: Introduction to Pacific Affairs Special Issue,” Pacific Affairs, 77:3 (2004) 403-410.
Williams, J.H., and D. Von Hippel. “Fuel and Famine: Rural Energy Crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,” Asian Perspective, 26 (2002) 111-140.
Von Hippel, D. and J.H. Williams, “Case Study of a Rural Energy Survey in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,” Asian Perspective, 26 (2002) 77-109.
Williams, J.H. "Wind Power in Inner Mongolia." In Bert Metz et al., eds., Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer, A Special Report of IPCC Working Group 3, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2000).
Williams, J.H. "Fang Lizhi's Big Bang: A Physicist and the State in China," Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences, 30 (Winter 1999) 49-88.
Williams, J.H. "Fang Lizhi's Expanding Universe." China Quarterly, 123 (1990), 459-484.
Harte, J. and J.H. Williams. "Arctic Aerosol and Arctic Climate," Journal of Climatic Change, 13 (October 1988).
Edited Volumes
Williams, J.H. and N. Dubash, eds., “The Political Economy of Electricity Reform in Asia,” special issue of Pacific Affairs, 77:3 (2004).
Carson, C., Pollack, E., Westwick, P. and Williams, J.H., eds., “Physicists in the Post-War Political Arena,” special issue of Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences, 30:1 (1999).
Williams, J.H., editor and translator, Bringing Down the Great Wall: Writings on Science, Culture, and Democracy in China, New York: A.A.Knopf (1991).
Williams, J.H., editor and translator, “Astrophysics and Ideology in People’s China,” special issue of Chinese Studies in Philosophy, 19:4.
Magazine Articles
Kammen, D.M. and J.H. Williams, “Plug and Go: Hybrid Electric Cars Drive Away Oil Imports,” California, 117:5 (September/October 2006) 22.
Williams, J.H., P. Hayes, D. Von Hippel, C. Greacen, M. Sagrillo. "The Wind Farm in the Cabbage Patch," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 55 (May/June 1999) 40-48.
Williams, J.H., J. Elliott, T. Frank. “Good Energy: Native Americans Lead the Way,” Winds of Change, 12 (Summer 1997) 14-23.
Williams, J.H. et al. "Tribal College Instructors Learn About Renewable Energy," Tribal College Journal, 8:4 (Spring 1997).
Reports and Manuals
B. Horii, A. Mahone, J. Moore, A. Olson, R. Orans, S. Price, M. Smart, J.H. Williams, J.H., CPUC/CEC Greenhouse Gas Modeling Results and Documentation, July 2008.
Price, S., B. Horii, J. Moore, J.H. Williams, National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Guidebook to Incorporating Energy Efficiency in Planning, prepared for U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA, 2008.
Williams, J.H., S. Price, J. Moore, W. Morrow, Draft Methodology for the Evaluation of the Market Transformation Effects of the Self-Generation Incentive Program, prepared for California Public Utilities Commission, May 2007.
Price, S., Dugan, R., E. Kollman, M. McGranahan, J. Moore, J.H. Williams, Value of Distribution Automation Applications, report prepared for California Energy Commission, Contract 500-01-025, October 2006.
Price, S., E. Kollman, J. Moore, J.H. Williams, Energy Storage Valuation Tool: Modeling Stakeholder Costs and Benefits, software and report developed for Electric Power Research Institute, September 2006.
Williams, J.H., R. Orans, S. Price, B. Horii, C.K. Woo, Demand Response Rate and Program Design, Phase I, report prepared for California Energy Commission, Demand Response Research Center, DRRC-RON-02, January 2006.
Williams, J.H., S. Price, C.K. Woo, A Survey of Time of Use Pricing and Demand Response Programs, report prepared for U.S. EPA, November 2005.
Von Hippel, D., J.H. Williams, and S. Eaton, Multi-Dimensional Issues in International Electric Power Grid Interconnections, report prepared for U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York: UN/DESA, June 2005.
Williams, J.H., “Our Energy Future: Between Iraq and a Hard Place - A Briefing Paper on Energy,” Nautilus Institute working paper, November 2003.
Williams, J.H., “Our Burning Path: Action or Denial on Global Warming? – A Briefing Paper on Climate,” Nautilus Institute working paper, October 2003.
Williams, J.H. “International Best Practices for Assessing and Reducing the Environmental Impacts of High-Voltage Transmission Lines,” Third Workshop on Power Grid Interconnection in Northeast Asia, Vladivostok, Russia (September 2003).
Von Hippel, D. and J.H. Williams, “Environmental Issues for Regional Power Systems in Northeast Asia,” Third Workshop on Power Grid Interconnection in Northeast Asia, Vladivostok, Russia, (September 2003).
UC/CSU Peak Load Reduction Program, The University of California and The California State University Summer 2001 Electricity Peak Load Reduction Plan, CEC Contract No. 400-00-019 (June 2001).
UC/CSU Peak Load Reduction Program, Photovoltaics For UC And CSU Peak Demand Reduction: A Brief Guide, CEC Contract No. 400-00-019 (July 2001).
Williams, J.H., D. Von Hippel, and Peter Hayes, “Fuel and Famine: Rural Energy Crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,” IGCC Policy Paper No. 46, San Diego: Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (2000).
Busch, J.F., J. Elliott, T. Frank, V. Gratton, T. Starrs, and Williams, J.H. Native Power: A Handbook on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Native American Communities. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, LBNL-41004 (January 1998).
Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
IPOL 8512 - Quant Mthd for Env Sci & Polcy
This course introduces the use of quantitative methods in environmental analysis. Students will learn how to apply basic principles of natural science to a variety of globally important environmental problems. Topics covered include estimation techniques and stock-flow modeling; population and resource use; biogeochemical cycles; acid deposition; climate change; stratospheric ozone depletion; toxic pollution and public health; and ionizing radiation. Coursework features weekly readings, bi-weekly quantitative problem sets, a mid-term exam, and a final exam. This is a challenging course for students with limited math and science backgrounds, but no student who works diligently will be left behind. The methods taught in this course have proven useful not only for aspiring environmental scientists, but also for those working in public policy, environmental law, ecological economics, international development, business, and journalism.
Fall 2009 - MIIS, Fall 2010 - MIIS, Fall 2011 - MIIS
IPOL 8548 - Interdisc Analys 4 EnergyPol
This course introduces interdisciplinary tools for energy analysis, including essentials of energy science and technology, energy resources and markets, environmental aspects of energy supply and demand, energy security, and energy regulation and policy. These tools are applied to topical modules on oil and gas; coal; nuclear power; renewable energy; energy efficiency; electric power; and transportation. Coursework will include lectures, weekly readings and discussion, quantitative homework, and written assignments including a semester research project. With energy in the news on a daily basis, there is no shortage of fodder for topical discussions and application of the tools developed in this course. The course may include field trips to energy facilities in the greater Monterey area, subject to availability and schedule. There is no pre-requisite for this course but taking IPOL 8512 first is helpful, as is other prior coursework in energy science and economics.
Fall 2010 - MIIS
IPOL 8621 - Sem: Climate & Security
IPOL 8624 - Sem:Adv Resrch in Energy Polcy
This seminar has two goals: to expose students to professional environments and career opportunities in energy and resources, and to use and integrate skills developed in earlier energy and environment courses in producing a research paper of professional caliber. There will be four main activities: (1) conducting a group research project and producing a high quality paper; (2) making visits to organizations working in energy and resources, in the public, private, and non-profit sectors; (3) attending guest lectures by professionals working in the field, covering both their current work and “tricks of the trade” for career-development; and (4) developing a database of information sources relevant to conducting research and finding jobs in energy and resources, which can be turned into a MIIS energy/climate website.
Spring 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2011 - MIIS
IPOL 8626 - ClimatMitigatnPolcy:PathTo2050 ▲
IPOL 8659 - Sem:AdvTopics/ElectrcPwrSystms
This seminar is about electric power systems and their role in modern economies and societies. It provides a basic introduction to the engineering, business, regulatory, and policy dimensions of electricity production and supply. Students who plan to work in the energy, development, or climate change policy fields will benefit from this course.
Fall 2009 - MIIS, Fall 2011 - MIIS
WKSH 8580 - Wks: Renewable Energy ▲
WKSH 8583 - Wks: Energy & Development
This workshop brings together energy researchers and practitioners working in Asia, Africa, and
Latin America, to explore the issue of energy and development in emerging economies. Key
themes include: environmental and social impacts of current energy infrastructure; access to clean, affordable energy for basic needs; energy sector policies and institutions; developing country energy in a carbon-constrained world; north-south vs south-south technology transfer; and regional, urban-rural, low income-middle income, household, and gender perspectives.
Spring 2010 - MIIS
