Biography
Daniel S. Cohan, Ph.D., is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, where he teaches courses on atmospheric science, and energy and the environment. His research specializes in the development of photochemical models and their application to air quality management and the impacts of energy use on air quality and climate. He received a B.A. in applied mathematics from Harvard University, a Ph.D. in atmospheric chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology, and served as a Fulbright Scholar to Australia. Cohan is a recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award and a member of the NASA Air Quality Applied Sciences Team.
Contact at [email protected] or 713-348-5129.
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How Investments Can Boost ERCOT Reliability and Cut Emissions
After high-profile outages in 2021, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has strengthened grid reliability by leveraging both new and traditional energy sources. This issue brief from the Center for Energy Studies by Daniel S. Cohan and Chen Chen finds that combining solar, wind, batteries, and natural gas power — along with investment in transmission, storage, and energy efficiency — is the most effective way to meet rising demand while reducing emissions.
Daniel S. Cohan, Chen Chen October 21, 2025
Accelerating Clean, Affordable Electricity
Clean electricity technologies are here, and they’re affordable. So why does most of our power in the U.S. still come from fossil fuels? Daniel Cohan joined Baker Briefing to explain how bureaucratic bottlenecks have led to a backlog of wind, solar, and battery storage power projects that could, if built, revolutionize the grid and greatly reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Daniel S. Cohan, David M. Satterfield November 11, 2024
Trump and Harris Have Clashing Records on Clean Energy, But the Clean Power Shift Is Too Broad for Any President to Control
While Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on clean energy policy, neither candidate has yet to offer a comprehensive energy plan. In a new commentary featured in The Conversation, Daniel S. Cohan examines how legislation, regulations, and trade policy will guide either administration’s approach to the energy transition.
Daniel S. Cohan October 1, 2024