About Us

We are a team of economists dedicated to analyzing the implications of climate change for the people of Oregon. Our team of researchers and practitioners hails from educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and consulting agencies. Together, we bring deep experience of both the economics of the natural environment and the work involved in translating research into policy practice. FORCE is non-partisan and our reports are focused on providing information, not performing advocacy.

Photo of Oregon FORCE team

Meet the Team

  • Photo of Keaton Miller, Ph.D.

    Keaton Miller, Ph.D.

    ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
    University of Oregon

    Professor Miller specializes in industrial organization, public economics, and applied econometrics. Keaton’s work focuses on the way in which public policy affects the experiences of households through the filter of imperfectly competitive markets. His work has appeared in numerous academic journals including the Journal of Public Economics and the Review of Industrial Organization. Keaton received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota in 2015.

  • Photo of Noelwah Netusil, Ph.D.

    Noelwah Netusil, Ph.D.

    STANLEY H. COHN PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
    Reed College

    Professor Netusil’s research focuses on the effect of flooding and floodplain location on property sale prices and on sustainable stormwater solutions. Noelwah is on the editorial board of the academic journal Landscape and Urban Planning and has previously served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations including The Climate Leadership Initiative, Oregon Water Trust, and the Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver. Noelwah received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992.

  • Photo of Ernie Niemi

    Ernie Niemi

    FOUNDER
    Natural Resource Economics

    Ernie specializes in applying the principles of cost-benefit analysis, economic valuation, and economic-impact analysis to describe the economic importance of natural resources. He formed Natural Resource Economics, Inc. in 2012. From 1978 to 2012, he managed economic and policy analysis for the consulting firm, ECONorthwest, where he was a co-owner, vice president, and senior economist. He also has taught cost-benefit analysis and economic development for the University of Oregon’s Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, and taught high-school science as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda. Ernie received his Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University in 1978.

  • Photo of Joshua Skov

    Joshua Skov

    DIRECTOR
    Center for Sustainable Business Practices, University of Oregon

    Joshua has been a consultant to business and government organizations on sustainability strategy for more than twenty years. In addition to his academic work, he is currently Assistant Vice President of Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change at WSP USA. Acting as a liaison between technical analysis and executive-level decision making, he has served more than 50 clients in the United States and abroad in a range of industries, including energy, food, waste management, tech, and consumer products. He was previously a member of the statewide board of directors for Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and on the Lane Transit District board of directors as the board's vice president. Joshua received an MA in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1997.

  • Photo of John Talberth, Ph.D.

    John Talberth, Ph.D.

    PRESIDENT, SENIOR ECONOMIST
    Center for Sustainable Economy

    John coordinates consulting work with non-profits, businesses, universities, and government agencies seeking environmental economics expertise and analysis to support their sustainability initiatives and programs. He also leads work on CSE’s Wild and Working Forests, Genuine Progress, and Green Infrastructure Programs. John holds a Ph.D. in International and Environmental Economics from the University of New Mexico.