Bruce Biewald

Bruce Biewald is the Board Chair, Chief Scientist, and Founder of Synapse Energy Economics, a research and consulting firm specializing in energy, economic, and environmental topics. Bruce led Synapse as CEO from its inception in 1996 until 2024. In that time, Synapse grew to become a leader in providing rigorous analysis of the electric power sector for public interest and governmental clients. Bruce plays a pivotal role in steering the organization towards innovative practices and new areas of focus. As a founder transitioning from the CEO role, Bruce champions strategic initiatives, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and sustainable energy, to foster growth and innovation at Synapse. He gets into the nitty-gritty of tough technical and political challenges to find creative solutions. Most importantly, he ensures Synapse meets its high standards for rigorous analysis and strategic application of data analysis.

Bruce brings over 40 years of consulting experience on issues of energy economics and electric industry regulation. He has coauthored more than 100 reports and has testified in more than 100 cases, including utility regulatory proceedings in 25 states and two Canadian provinces. He has also testified before before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Bruce's areas of expertise include many aspects of electric power system planning and decarbonizing our economy. He brings that expertise to his positions advising organizations including Green Energy Consumer Alliance (board member), the Future of Heat Initiative (FOHI, founder and board chair, HEETlabs (advisory board), Horizon Climate Initiative (advisory board), and advising on strategy (e.g., Vote Solar and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation). Bruce also hosts the Energy Nerd Show video podcast alongside Synapse co-founder Jean Ann Ramey.

His many publications include studies for the Electric Power Research Institute, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Technology Assessment, the New England Governors’ Conference, the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the National Commission in Energy Policy, the Ozone Transport Commission, the PJM Interconnection, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Prior to founding Synapse, Bruce was employed for 15 years at Energy Systems Research Group, which later became the Tellus Institute. Rising to senior scientist and manager of the company’s electricity program, he was responsible for research and consulting on all aspects of electric system planning, regulation, and restructuring.

Bruce holds a bachelor of science in art and design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has completed graduate courses in micro and macroeconomics at Harvard University Extension School. He enjoys guest lecturing on energy topics and has done guest lectures in courses at MIT, Harvard, Brown, Boston University, Northeastern, and Stanford — and taught an Energy Policy and Decarbonization course in Tufts Department of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning.