Q&A with Center Alumna Sarah Hay

We recently checked in with Trachtenberg MPP graduate and former RSC policy analyst Sarah Hay for an update on her new role at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation where she is Senior Manager for Energy and Environment Policy.

Now that you’re settling in at AAI, what kinds of projects are you working on?
Right now, the top item on my to-do list is public comment writing on EPA's Tier 4 Delay proposal - more on that later! Aside from comment writing, I'm planning a piece about how onboard diagnostics (OBD) regulations have changed over the past few years. OBD systems control your check engine light, which turns on when your car has identified that the emissions control system is not working properly. OBD is jointly regulated by EPA and the California Air Resources Board and was impacted by the Congressional Review Act actions against the Clean Air Act waivers last year (which I wrote about at RSC). I think it's important to capture this history as it's unfolding so we collectively remember what was going on in the years to come. 

What are some of the ways your work with the Regulatory Studies Center helped you develop your career path?
Oh, I owe so much to the Regulatory Studies Center! RSC is the perfect training ground for a career as a regulatory professional. I learned how to read regulations well, write well, and how to research efficiently (just to name a few!), all of which are absolutely essential for the fast-paced trade association world. I spent years at RSC thinking deeply about the regulatory process and how to engage most effectively, which is what I continue to do every day at Auto Innovators. 

Which of your MPP courses were especially good preparation for your current role (or future plans)?
The Regulatory Comment Clinic! From that class, I got such a good understanding of the nitty-gritty parts of the regulatory process, including the less common procedures, and I learned how to write both effective comments and shorter-form pieces on regulatory topics. I'll also highlight Benefit-Cost Analysis - at Auto Innovators, we spend time evaluating agencies' regulatory impact analyses. Having a good handle on the mechanics of BCA helps me identify places where it would be useful to provide additional data or research. 

Any interesting public comments you have recently submitted or plan to? Tell us a bit about the issue and policy considerations you explored? 
As I mentioned, the top item on my to-do list is public comment writing on EPA's Tier 4 Delay proposal. EPA has proposed to delay the implementation of the Tier 4 emissions standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, and EPA also highlighted that it will propose amendments to the standards in a later rulemaking. One of my other issue areas at Auto Innovators is vehicle certification--how manufacturers test vehicles and submit data to demonstrate that vehicles meet emissions standards--so I've been digging into some of the more technical pieces of this rulemaking. 

Looking back at your years in higher ed, are there any experiences you had that seem like they could only have happened at GW?
Definitely my C-SPAN feature! GW is the right place to be for that kind of conversation, and I was lucky enough to be researching the right topic at the right time to get that invitation. Still one of the coolest moments of my life!

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself? Future plans? Hobbies or interests?
On brand with my job, I'm still an avid Formula 1 fan and am enjoying the most recent run of races this season!