Assistant Scientist
Olsson
Claire Burch works with Olsson as an Assistant Scientist in their Utility Environmental group. She is also a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma (OU). Claire’s research is oriented around natural resource management in sustainability and conflicting priorities within clean energy transitions, focusing on environmental siting and permitting of utility-scale wind and solar in the Central U.S./Great Plains region. Her area of expertise is stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration, and her research looks at the experiences of those involved in the siting and permitting process. In her work with Olsson, Claire helps renewable energy clients with the environmental planning and permitting of projects across the U.S. She has assisted clients with expanding their clean energy portfolios and has helped tribal clients with grant writing to pursue funding for clean energy projects. Claire is actively engaged in renewable energy education and outreach in Oklahoma, serving as a board member on the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council and as program manager for a K-12 teacher outreach program focused on providing resources for building renewable energy curriculum in the state.