Dr. Tony G. Reames

Dr. Tony G. Reames is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of energy and environmental justice, as well as a senior government policy advisor. He is the Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice position and an associate professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Dr. Reames is the founder of the Urban Energy Justice Lab and the Energy Equity Project, and he also serves as the Director of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability Detroit Sustainability Clinic. His research focuses on investigating fair and equitable access to affordable, reliable, clean energy, and exploring the production and persistence of energy disparities across race, income, and geography.

Dr. Reames served as a Presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration from 2021 to 2023, holding several senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy. He was a Senior Advisor in the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (now Office of Energy Justice and Equity). As Deputy Director for Energy Justice, Reames established and led the first-ever Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis to conduct research and evaluation on Federal energy policy and programs for advancing racial and socioeconomic equity. As Principal Deputy Director for the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Reames worked with state and local organizations to accelerate place-based clean energy deployment strategies involving a wide range of government, community, business, and other stakeholders.

In addition to his federal service, Dr. Reames advises state and local governments. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Reames to the first-ever state advisory council on environmental justice, where he serves as vice chair, and the Governor’s Climate Justice Braintrust. He was also a member of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Weatherization Policy Advisory Council. Dr. Reames has worked with cities, like Detroit and Ann Arbor, to implement equitable climate action plans and promote affordable, energy-efficient housing. He consults with corporations to increase program access and participation for diverse customers and businesses.

Dr. Reames holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from the University of Kansas, a Master of Engineering Management from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. He was a JPB Environmental Health Fellow at Harvard University and a visiting scholar at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Reames is a licensed professional engineer with experience in the public and private sectors. He was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Captain and serving a tour of duty in Iraq.

He has received numerous recognitions, including the Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence, the National Council on Electricity Policy’s Jan Brinch Award for Collaboration in Public Service, Grist 50 Fixers, Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40, and Oakland County Michigan Elite 40. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society. He has served as a director and officer on several nonprofit boards, including Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA, Planet Detroit, Ecology Center, Institute for Energy Innovation, and GreenHome Institute.