Dr. Doug Bessette

Biography

Doug Bessette is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. His research focuses on clean energy transitions, social acceptance of renewable energy sources, and community energy development. Bessette integrates applied decision research and critical geography to understand the risks and opportunities surrounding the development of clean energy systems. He advocates for greater community influence and control in renewable energy decisions, emphasizing economic development and improved local decision-making processes that align with community values. Currently, he leads a project funded by the Department of Energy entitled 'Fast and/or Fair: rapid equitable processes large-scale solar development mutually exclusive?' Previously, Bessette was the principal investigator on a National Science Foundation-funded project examining rural Tribal energy sovereignty. He has a background in organic and sustainable agriculture and has worked on issues related to coastal climate risk management and natural resource management. He received his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Calgary, Canada, and holds an M.Sc. in Community, Agriculture, Recreation Resource Studies from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan. Doug has also served as a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State University and as a Senior Research Associate at Ohio State University.

Research Interests