Writing Samples
Allegheny County Green Bank Proposal (Allegheny BRIDGE Initiative)
I created a green bank proposal for Allegheny County designed to fund local climate and infrastructure projects without raising taxes. The model uses existing public dollars to attract private investment, creating a reliable and cost-effective way to support things like clean energy, low-carbon construction, and stormwater upgrades.
The proposal includes a phased rollout plan, legal grounding under Pennsylvania Title 53, and a clear governance structure that balances transparency and efficiency. It focuses on job creation, long-term cost savings, and reducing financial risk for both public agencies and private partners. The goal is to help local governments, residents, and businesses access financing for projects that improve quality of life, strengthen infrastructure, and move the region forward.
Renewable Diesel One-Pager
This project was completed during my Summer 2024 graduate internship with the Allegheny County Department of Sustainability. I built on earlier work with Pittsburgh Regional Transit and the City of Pittsburgh to assess the feasibility of switching their fleets to renewable diesel.
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After contacting multiple suppliers and reviewing quotes, I found that renewable diesel could cost about $0.30 less per gallon than traditional diesel. The analysis showed a 92 percent reduction in lifecycle COâ‚‚e emissions and significantly lower air pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, and other health impacts. The fuel is also produced without using food-based crops, avoiding competition with agriculture.
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The findings supported county and regional efforts to pursue cleaner, cost-effective fuel options without requiring major infrastructure changes.
Report on Low-Embodied Carbon Construction Materials
This report was developed during my Summer 2024 graduate internship with the Allegheny County Department of Sustainability, co-authored with a fellow intern as part of the County’s Sustainable Procurement Ordinance.
My focus was on identifying practical strategies to reduce the environmental impact of asphalt and concrete, two of the most carbon-intensive materials used in public infrastructure.
I contributed research, policy analysis, and wrote the Executive Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations sections.
The report highlighted low-embodied carbon asphalt solutions that can reduce COâ‚‚e emissions by 29 percent, extend road life from 30 to over 50 years, and reduce paving work shifts by 65 percent, which also helps limit traffic disruption. These approaches, including long-life designs like perpetual pavement, offer long-term cost savings and fewer maintenance needs while improving public service delivery.
The report supports Allegheny County’s goal of reducing emissions and modernizing infrastructure procurement through practical, cost-conscious improvements.
One-Pager/Brief on Mixed-Use Energy on Public Lands
This project was completed as the final assignment for my Writing for Public Policy course at Carnegie Mellon University. Writing from the perspective of a fictional environmental policy organization called EcoShift, I developed a federal policy recommendation for the Bureau of Land Management.
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The proposal called for a rule change to allow mixed-use renewable energy development on low-producing fossil fuel leases. It also recommended that, after a grace period, the federal government reclaim unused or underutilized leases that are often held for tax purposes rather than active production. The goal was to increase land use efficiency, reduce public subsidies for inactive fossil leases, and open space for clean energy development without needing new land acquisition.
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The project focused on actionable, legally grounded policy that balances climate goals with regulatory and economic realities.