Daniel R. Simmons is an expert in climate change and environmental policy at the state level. He is director of state affairs at the Institute for Energy Research (IER). In that role, he monitors energy and climate policy at the state level and promotes free-market energy policies.

Before joining IER, Simmons served as director of the Natural Resources Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). He was responsible for the day-to-day management of a 200-member task force made up state legislators and private-sector members. ALEC’s Natural Resources Task Force promotes policy innovations through markets, property rights, and the rule of law in energy, environment, natural resources, and agricultural policy areas. He also drafted, researched, and promoted ALEC’s model legislation.

Prior to working for ALEC, Simmons was a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he analyzed proposed federal regulations and wrote comments to federal agencies during the rulemaking process. He also drafted law review articles based on a current regulatory and legal issues.

Previous to working at the Mercatus Center, Simmons served as legislative staff for the Committee on Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he handled endangered species and forestry issues.

Simmons holds a B.A. in economics from Utah State University and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar.