Pace University Hires Karl R. Rábago to Lead the Law School’s Energy and Climate Center

On April 29, Pace University announced the hiring of Karl R. Rábago as Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, an interdisciplinary law and policy think tank located at the Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY. EESI's founder and chairman emeritus, Richard L. Ottinger, is the Law School's Dean Emeritus and the founder of the Pace Energy and Climate Center. According to Ottinger, “Karl Rábago brings a wealth of industry experience, academic credentials and government experience to the Center."

Rábago arrives at Pace Energy and Climate Center at a pivotal moment. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that his administration intends to restructure the way utilities and energy companies sell electricity and interact with their customers in New York State. Efforts are now underway to develop new policies to accelerate the deployment of clean energy generation technologies, give customers more control over their energy use, and reduce the emissions that are causing climate change. Pace University will be contributing to these efforts with its team of experts.

“I am thrilled to lead the Pace Energy and Climate Center and I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and his outstanding energy team to build a better electric grid, modernize the way the Empire State consumes and produces energy, and protect the environment,” said  Rábago.

Rábago served as vice president with Austin Energy, an EESI Associate and one of the leading electric utilities in the country for the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy; he was regulatory affairs director for AES, a Fortune 200 independent power producer operating in 21 countries; a Commissioner with the Texas Public Utilities Commission, where he dealt with exactly the same issues that the Center addresses; and he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Utility Technologies in the U.S. Department of Energy. Rábago also taught environmental law at the prestigious University of Houston Law Center, and Constitutional Law, Military Law, and Environmental Law at the US Military Academy at West Point.

Rábago will join the Pace Energy and Climate Center on May 1.