Managing Consultant
Jen Cardona

Featured Image

Jen Cardona

Dr. Jen Cardona joined E3 in 2021 as a Consultant in the Climate Pathways group, where she uses technical analysis and modeling to understand economy-wide emissions reductions strategies. Jen came to E3 motivated by the urgent need for deep decarbonization to combat climate change.  Jen is excited by the many facets of our energy systems and is passionate about applying her technical problem-solving skills to challenges in this domain.

Prior to E3, Jen completed her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, where she sought to address challenges in renewable energy through the application of physics and statistical methods to real-world experiments. For her dissertation, Jen developed physics-based and machine learning models to infer wind speeds from videos of objects such as trees, with the goal of using pre-existing objects in an environment as ubiquitous low-cost flow sensors. Prior to her graduate studies, Jen led field testing of a hydrokinetic energy harvesting device as a research engineer at Brown University.

In her free time, Jen loves hiking, yoga, and video games, and she is well known for her terrible puns.

Education: PhD, MS, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University; ScB, Mechanical Engineering, Brown University

Projects

Hawaiʻi Pathways to Decarbonization | Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, 2023

E3 supported the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office in the development of a report to the State Legislature evaluating long-term pathways to economywide decarbonization in Hawaiʻi and recommending new policies to ensure the achievement of the state’s decarbonization goals. E3 supported the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office in this effort by developing long-term decarbonization scenarios using the PATHWAYS model to explore the tradeoffs between different pathways to achieving Hawaiʻi’s goals.

The report affirms and recommends maintaining the state’s economy-wide emissions reduction target of 50% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels. The analysis shows that while challenging to achieve, with high levels of energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, and natural carbon sinks, among other measures, this ambitious goal is within reach.

Read the detailed project description.

Scenario Analysis to Support the 2023 Annual Report | United States Climate Alliance, 2023

E3 provided scenario analysis to support the US Climate Alliance’s 2023 Annual Report which highlighted the progress Alliance members have already made toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and using E3’s modeling, detailed multiple scenarios of Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050. E3 evaluated Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050 using E3’s PATHWAYS model to map out the trajectory of current policies including the Inflation Reduction Act, proposed federal actions, and additional ambitious collective actions for Alliance states or the federal government. These scenarios highlighted the gap between current policies and GHG targets and quantified the impact of incremental measures and actions. E3 also evaluated the benefits and costs of achieving net zero GHG emissions, including health benefits, climate benefits, and direct costs of fuels and clean infrastructure, showcasing net savings through 2050 of decarbonization.

Read the detailed project description.

US Climate Alliance Greenhouse Gas Emissions Scenarios to Net Zero | US Climate Alliance, 2021

E3 provided modeling and scenario analysis to support the US Climate Alliance’s 2021 Annual Report. The report highlights the progress Alliance members have already made toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and using E3’s modeling, details multiple scenarios of Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050. E3 evaluated Alliance-wide GHG emissions through 2050 using E3’s PATHWAYS and RESOLVE models. The GHG emissions scenarios E3 developed for the Alliance highlighted the gap between the GHG reductions that would be possible with proposed state and federal policies and the reductions necessary to meet established federal targets. E3 also modeled the emissions impacts of the collective actions that would help bridge that gap.

Read the detailed project description.


FULL E3 TEAM

Join us:

"(Required)" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Connect with us:

E3