Climate and Energy

Climate Consultant

Laurie recently retired after 35 years as an attorney at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Laurie and her husband Allan Zabel, also formerly with EPA, have written and spoken on climate policy. Her goals are to apply the skills she learned at EPA to address the climate crisis. She looks forward to collaborating with others to draft principles for national climate legislation and to help build public support for effective and fair climate legislation. Laurie and Allan’s prior climate work includes their 2008 Open Letter to Congress, their climate video (“The Huge Mistake”), a Washington Post op-ed (“Cap-and-Trade Mirage”), and work on a 2012 lawsuit challenging California’s offset protocols (Citizens Climate Lobby and Our Children’s Earth Foundation vs. CARB). Laurie has a B.A. from Yale, an M.S.W. from Smith College and a J.D. from UC Berkeley Law. She enjoys hiking, camping and spending time with family including her grandchildren and godchildren.

COMMENTARY | PFAS Endangering Our Food Supply

by | November 4, 2024
PEER is engaged in several efforts to prevent toxic PFAS from contaminating our food chain. Unfortunately, EPA is being more of a hindrance than a help ...

COMMENTARY | Maryland’s Renewable Energy Law: Are Reforms on the Horizon?

by | October 28, 2024
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson announced he would sponsor a bill to remove trash incineration from the state’s definition of renewable energy ...

COMMENTARY | Transitioning to Renewable Energy the Right Way

by | October 25, 2024
As the country builds out renewable energy projects, our goal is to ensure that renewable energy development avoids intact ecosystems and heritage sites ...

COMMENTARY | Elections Matter: The Inflation Reduction Act, Climate Change and Governance

by | August 15, 2024
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has at least one major governance shortcoming; government agencies lack the capacity to manage IRA funds ...

COMMENTARY | New White House Carbon Offsetting ‘Principles’ Lack Teeth

by | June 10, 2024
The administration should find the courage to reverse course and acknowledge that carbon offsets are a dangerous and damaging distraction ...
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