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Mark Specht
Mark Specht is the Western States Energy Manager/Senior Analyst for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In his role, he leads research and advocacy efforts in California and other Western states to advance the transition to a less polluting and less carbon-intensive energy system.
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![Two people sitting in front of two laptops. One holds a pencil over paper with calculations.](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-0823-Mark-blog-1000x600.jpg)
![An electric car charges at a transportable, off-grid, solar powered, solar tracking, electric vehicle charger at a National Renewable Energy Laboratory facility.](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Blog-Lead-Image-Template90-1000x600.jpg)
![A burnt down house in the foreground, while two houses in the back were untouched by the Carr Fire in Redding California.](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-0516-Mark-blog-1-1000x600.jpg)
![Image from space of California and Nevada](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-0419-Mark-blog-1000x600.jpg)
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![a photo of the Russell City Energy Center in Hayward, California, taken by the blog author on his tour. a sign on the chainlink fence in front of the plant reads, "welcome to the best damn plant in the fleet!"](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Copy-of-Blog-Lead-Image-Template8-1000x600.jpg)
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![Portland General Electric's Salem Smart Power Center](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/smart-power-center-1000x600.jpg)
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![Gas plant in California with pipeline in foreground](https://blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CaliforniaOilandGas-1000x600.jpg)