Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1710 University Ave, Room 207
Madison, WI 53726 USA
608-265-8720 tel
608-265-4113 fax
plachinski@wisc.edu

Download Steve's CV

Steve is a post-Masters researcher at SAGE working with Prof. Tracey Holloway and Dr. Paul Meier.  His research focuses on the intersections of energy, air quality, and climate change and utilizes a variety of modeling/analysis methods.  He is currently working on a project funded by the National Center for Freight Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) evaluating the air quality and greenhouse gas emission impacts of the Pickens Plan (increased utilization of natural gas in heavy-duty freight vehicles, and replacing natural gas electricity with wind power) in the Midwest U.S.  In addition to his research at SAGE, Steve is also an consultant for Meier Engineering Research, LLC where he develops scenarios of future electricity generation using the myPower electricity dispatch model.

For more information on myPower, click here.

In December 2010, Steve completed his M.S. degree in Environment & Resources at UW-Madison with a certificate in 'Humans and the Global Environment' (CHANGE).  For his thesis research, he explored the role of air quality modeling in energy and climate change policy through two interrelated projects utilizing the EPA Community Multi-Scale Air Quality Model (CMAQ).  First, CMAQ and air quality measurements were used to assess the response of ground-level ozone to weather and climate over the continental U.S.  Second, in a 'Focus on Energy' funded project, the myPower electricity model was coupled with CMAQ to quantify the air quality co-benefits of proposed state climate policies. 

Download Steve Plachinski's thesis

View research poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting in December 2010 (8.2 MB)














In addition this modeling work, Steve co-led an assessment of biogas (anaerobic digesters) as a distributed energy and sustainable development initiative in Wisconsin.  This project, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative and the CHANGE program, included renewable energy policy analysis, quantification of non-energy biogas benefits, engagement with relevant stakeholders, and a research trip to Germany in September 2010.  Download co-authored biogas report


In 2008, Steve received his B.S. in Applied Physics from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio with minors in mathematics and theology.