Bonnie Ram

Bonnie Ram is a Senior Researcher and Associate Director of the Center for Research in Wind at the University of Delaware. Most recently, she was the Interim Director of Strategic Partnerships for the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment that resulted in a college strategic plan.  This effort culminated in the creation of the Climate Science and Policy Hub. She has raised over $1 million for the University of DE on various research projects — ranging from technology innovation to atmospheric sciences. Her research focuses on the low-carbon transformations of the electricity sectors in different countries with an emphasis on wind energy siting strategies and decision science, stakeholder engagement strategies, and environmental and climate change risks and benefits analyses. For the last several years, her research is exploring stakeholder concerns and views relating to the proposed offshore wind projects in the Mid-Atlantic region. As a Guest Senior Researcher at the Danish Technical University–Wind Engineering Department, Bonnie was responsible for stimulating new thinking in social science and environmental research (2014-16). Also she was a task leader in a Danish national research endeavor focusing on social acceptability of land-based and near shore wind projects, including two case studies along Denmark’s western coast  (Wind 2050). Her professional experiences in Washington, D.C. ranged from program leader to corporate officer at two national consulting firms, marketing and and managing over $10 million in annual revenues as well as personnel. Bonnie has co-authored a number of highly recognized federal government reports as well as peer reviewed articles. Bonnie was a co-editor and manager of the Department of Energy (DOE) national vision document on wind energy, “20% Wind by 2030” (2008), the first DOE national offshore wind strategy (2011), and the national offshore wind report (2010) for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In collaboration with NREL and other federal agencies and industry representatives, she helped organize the Bat and Wind Energy Cooperative that set the groundwork for decades of innovative research. Her own consulting firm, RamPower  continues to provide strategic advice for non-profits, government agencies, and universities relating to renewable energy transitions.

She has a B.A in Geography and International Development (double major) and a M.A. in Environmental Policy and Science, both from Clark University (Worcester, MA). More information is available on her curriculum vitae.