WASHINGTON, December 10, 2010 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Joseph Glauber today announced the selection of Dr. Harry Baumes as the Director of the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU). As Director of OEPNU, Baumes provides policy advice for the Office of the Secretary and other officials on energy and bioproduct issues including analyzing and evaluating existing and proposed energy policies, strategies and regulations.
Since April 2006, Baumes has served as Associate Director of OEPNU where his activities focused on renewable energy policy and evaluation – particularly biofuels and feedstocks. Baumes has worked on the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and coordinated USDA interaction and collaboration with the Environmental Protection
Agency on the proposed and final rule for implementing the RFS provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Prior to returning to USDA in April 2006, Baumes was Managing Director of Agricultural Services for Global Insight. There he had management responsibilities for the Agricultural Group, including domestic and international agriculture sector forecasting and consulting services. Baumes has more than 30 years of professional experience conducting and managing domestic and international agriculture sector studies.
Baumes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University (1974), a Master of Science degree (1976), and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree (1978) in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
