Randy Locke is the Chief Scientist for Research and Development at the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) in Champaign, Illinois. He has more than 30 years of experience on topics relevant to energy and environmental issues, including applied research, program development, technical peer review, standards development, and scientific leadership. Randy has served and chaired numerous technical panels and professional committees at regional, state, national, and international levels.
Current programs include:
Illinois Coal Ash Impoundment Assessment, an investigation from 2024-2027 to gather data and develop resources to aid prioritization of impoundments with significant potential to improve the cost, time, or efficacy of pollution mitigation or material beneficiation (Lead Investigator).
Environmental monitoring program in Decatur, Illinois as part of U.S. Department of Energy funded efforts to determine the best approaches for capturing and storing carbon dioxide that might otherwise contribute to global climate change (ISGS monitoring coordinator since 2009).
ISGS scientific support program for Illinois nature preserves and other areas. This program is funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and supports the long-term management and protection of high-quality natural areas by investigating the hydrogeology and geochemistry at sites throughout Illinois (Lead investigator since 1998).
Selected professional activities:
- International Technical Expert for the American National Standards Institute appointed to the International Standards Organization Technical Committee 265 (Carbon dioxide capture, transportation, and geological storage) including Working Group 3 (Storage), Working Group 4 (Quantification and Verification), and Working Group 6 (CO2-EOR); 2014 to present
- International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Program – Monitoring Network member, 2012 to present
- US Department of Energy - Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership; member of the Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting Working Group (2009 to 2012) and Water Working Group (2009 to 2015); CarbonSAFE Phase III: Regulatory Working Group (2024-present), Community Engagement Working Group (2024-present)
- Associate Member of the Association of American State Geologists since 2023.
- National Ground Water Association member since 2003.
- Illinois Groundwater Association member since 1995, served the Association for over 10 years in multiple capacities and was its Executive Committee Chair in 2004.
- Chair of the Prairie Research Institute Coal Ash Response Team
- Chair of the Prairie Research Institute Natural Gas Working Group