During my MES studies I worked at the State Department of Transportation and I took my time with my thesis. In 1996 I finally graduated on a comparison of sulfur dioxide reduction policies in Germany (command and control), the Netherlands (a negotiated deal between the government and the power sector) and the USA (a cap and trade system).
 
The next year, I married fellow-greener Deborah Sherwood. Our honeymoon consisted of a nine-month backpacking trip through Asia, ending with a trip on the Trans Siberia Express from Beijing to Moscow and then onwards by train to the Netherlands, where we have lived ever since.
 
I worked for a Dutch environmental consulting firm for almost a year, but then switched back to academia. In 2004, I obtained my PhD Degree from Delft University of Technology, on the question of generation adequacy in liberalized power markets. I stayed on at the university, developing into energy economics, energy system integration and energy transition policy. I am now a full professor, still at the same faculty of Technology, Policy and Management. The quality of education at Evergreen really inspired me and helped me become a successful teacher myself. I often think back on the classes of Ralph Murphy and Tom Womeldorff, who opened the door for me to go this direction.
 
Deborah and I live in Delft, so I ride my bicycle to work in less than 15 minutes – if I’m not traveling. I travel a lot around Europe, but am limiting air travel. Occasionally, though, we visit Deborah’s relatives in the Pacific Northwest. We have two young adult children, both in college. It is fun and interesting for me as a university teacher to have kids in college.
 
Last year, I bought a 29-foot sailing yacht from 1970. So far, I have spent more time on maintenance than on sailing, but I enjoy both equally.
 
Connect with me at: laurensjdevries@gmail.com