Sonali Deshpande
Policy Analyst, Industry
Sonali Deshpande is a policy analyst at Energy Innovation, working within the Industry Program to advance policies that can decarbonize energy- and emissions-intensive industries like steel, cement, and chemicals. She conducts rigorous analysis of scientific, technological, and market contexts, translating evidence into policies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while preserving environmental integrity and economic vitality. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Sonali was an analyst on the Environmental Defense Fund’s U.S. Climate Policy team, working to increase federal support for research, development, and commercialization of industrial decarbonization and carbon removal technologies. Sonali holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, where she developed foundational scientific knowledge and policy design skills pertinent to her work today. While pursuing her M.P.A., Sonali served as a graduate consultant for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and a research assistant at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. Sonali also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Vassar College. Sonali works remotely from Burlington, Vermont, where she spends her free time rock climbing, hiking, and reading.