09/23/2026

A Message from the President

USAEE NEWSLETTER | FALL 2026

 

From Greg Upton, President, USAEE

USAEE Community,

As we move into the fall, I am excited that the 2026 USAEE Annual Conference in Pittsburgh is now just around the corner. From November 15–18, our community will come together around this year’s theme, “DISRUPTION: The State of Energy Markets in 2026 and Beyond.” If you have not yet registered, it is not too late, and I hope you will make plans to join us.

The theme could hardly be more timely. Global energy markets continue to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, rapidly growing electricity demand, technological change, evolving policy, and significant new investment in energy infrastructure. At a time of such disruption, high-quality economic analysis is particularly important. Our field has an important role to play in helping policymakers, businesses, and the public understand what is happening in energy markets, why it is happening, and the tradeoffs associated with the choices ahead. USAEE provides a forum where these questions can be examined rigorously and constructively, drawing on perspectives from academia, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector.

This year’s conference reflects that mission with an outstanding program. We currently have approximately 180 presenters across nine plenary sessions and 35 concurrent sessions. The program also includes our Best Student Paper Competition, Best Student Poster Competition, and Case Competition. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to assembling the program and especially to those who will be sharing their research, experience, and perspectives with us in Pittsburgh.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to USAEE’s Sponsors and Sustaining Members. Their support helps make not only our annual conference possible, but also the many activities USAEE undertakes throughout the year. From conferences and webinars to student programs and other member initiatives, Sustaining Members provide critical support for our mission. We are grateful to the organizations that have already committed their support. For organizations considering becoming a Sustaining Member, it is not too late, and we would be honored to have you join us.

Strengthening and expanding this support will be an important priority for USAEE going forward. In 2027, our Fundraising Committee, will be headed a new Vice President of Development, who will formally lead our efforts to grow and strengthen the Sustaining Membership program. This represents an important investment in USAEE’s future and in building the resources necessary to expand the programs and opportunities we provide to our members.

More broadly, our committee structure has been particularly active this year. Members are contributing through Academic Affairs, Business, Government, Membership and Chapters, Communications, and other areas of the association. I want to thank everyone who has volunteered their time and expertise. USAEE is fundamentally a volunteer-driven organization, and there are many opportunities to become more involved. When you are in Pittsburgh, I encourage you to introduce yourself to members of the USAEE Council and our committee leadership and let them know if you would like to participate more actively in 2027. Our committees are one of the best ways for members to help shape the direction of the association.

This summer, I also had the opportunity to attend the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) International Conference in Santiago. It was a successful event and a valuable opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from around the world. Energy economics is inherently international, and there continues to be tremendous value in maintaining strong connections among energy economists across countries and regions.

As many of you know, USAEE and IAEE have been working this year to determine the future structure of the relationship between our two organizations. While we have not yet reached an agreement, discussions continue, and I remain hopeful that we can identify a constructive path forward. I especially encourage those of you who are members of both USAEE and IAEE to remain actively engaged in both organizations and to communicate to leadership the importance you place on collaboration. A durable partnership will require continued engagement and a willingness on all sides to work constructively toward arrangements that serve our respective memberships and the broader energy economics community.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Pittsburgh in November. If you have not yet registered, please join us. If your organization would like to become a Sponsor, there is still time. And if you would like to become more involved with USAEE in 2027, please find me or another member of the USAEE Council while we are together in Pittsburgh. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Greg Upton (gupton3@lsu.edu) is President of the United States Association for Energy Economics.