Benny Smith

Benny is a longtime carbon pricing advocate, having worked since high school to promote key pieces of legislation that will incentivize a transition away from fossil fuels. He has worked at the national level with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and at the state level while serving as a Fellow for Our Climate. He also helped start the Rochester Youth Climate Leaders in upstate New York. Benny is currently pursuing an Sc.B. in Geophysics at Brown University, and is particularly interested in climate modelling and data analysis. Outside of the climate world, Benny enjoys long-distance running and playing the violin, and has four younger siblings.

Illinois, Politics
Update: Next CEJA Version to Prioritize Holding Utilities Accountable
August 20, 2020 by Benny Smith

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition recently announced that a new version of its bill, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), will soon be released. CEJA is a bill that invests in clean energy and jobs training to rapidly decarbonize Illinois...

COVID19, Intersection
Heat Waves: A Climate Justice and Public Health Issue
August 10, 2020 by Benny Smith

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take thousands of American lives, its effects are being worsened by a “heat dome” sitting over the continental U.S. As reported by the Washington Post, much of the U.S. experienced abnormally high temperatures throughout...

Illinois, Politics
Illinois Considers Ambitious Energy Reforms
July 7, 2020 by Benny Smith

Momentum is building in Illinois for the passage of a piece of legislation that would rapidly decarbonize the state’s economy while creating thousands of jobs in the clean energy sector.  The bill, called the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), would build...