People news: Empire Center hires Hanley as senior policy analyst

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Empire Center for Public Policy announced that James E. Hanley has joined as a senior policy analyst, focusing on energy and environmental policy.

The Empire Center, based in Albany, describes itself as an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank “dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Hanley will lead the Empire Center’s work on energy and environment issues. That will include closely monitoring how the state proposes to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (or CLCPA), making sure the true costs are known, and suggesting alternative ways to achieve some of those goals, according to an Empire Center news release.

“New York State is embarking on a radical transformation of our economy in its transition to the use of alternative energy sources. Such a shift requires an independent voice to look out for the interests of working people who could be harmed by such a transition. I’m thrilled that James will be leading our efforts to analyze these new proposals through an objective, expert lens,” Tim Hoefer, president and CEO of the Empire Center, said.

Hanley has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oregon and was associate professor of political science at Adrian College before joining the Empire Center. He has been published in the American Political Science Review and the Journal of Private Enterprise along with other academic journals. Hanley has also written for the Foundation for Economic Education, the Liberty Fund, and the American Institute for Economic Research, where he recently served as an E. C. Harwood visiting fellow.

“I look forward to scrutinizing New York’s energy and environmental policy alongside some of the best minds in the state,” said Hanley. “I’m proud to help the Empire Center expand its areas of expertise and work towards protecting both the economy and the environment.”