Energy and Environment Issues

This page offers an easy way for policymakers to access energy and environment research and analysis that is relevant to current Congressional agendas. For additional information, to request documents, or to arrange a briefing, contact the RAND Office of Congressional Relations at ocr@rand.org or (703) 413-1100 x5395.

Recent Findings

Blog

Using Mobile Money to Make Water Safe — May 21, 2013

Women and children collecting water from the unimproved water source of Asengo Community. Asengo Community, Kisumu, KenyaContaminated drinking water contributes to the deaths of some 750,000 children under the age of five every year due to diarrheal disease. A RAND project is using mobile phones to increase the sales and use of safe-water filters in Kenya.

Blog

Paying for Infrastructure, a Taxing Issue — May 16, 2013

Traffic Jam Stopped Cars Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 358 Bristol LevittownIf the “user pays” idea is worth saving, the United States needs a different calculation, writes Liisa Ecola. Some states are looking at mileage fees. With mileage fees, you pay based on the number of miles you drive, rather than the number of gallons of gas used.

Blog

Planning for Superstorms, Wildfires, and Deep Uncertainty — Apr 18, 2013

61747The path to climate change preparedness should start at the intersection of resilience and robustness — that is, building resilient communities with the individuals and organizations within those communities making robust decisions, ones designed to work well over a wide range of ever-changing conditions.

Blog

Consider Taxing Miles Traveled — Apr 18, 2013

Aerial photo of highwayMileage-fee rates could be structured to reduce congestion, harmful emissions and excessive road wear, and the enabling technology could support a range of value-added services offering greater convenience and safety for motorists, writes Keith Crane.

Report

The Relationship between Natural Resources and China's Maritime Disputes — Apr 4, 2013

South China Sea mapMedia and policy sources often cite natural resources as a primary driver of tensions in the South and East China Seas. In reality, the region’s hydrocarbon potential is moderate. Resource issues function primarily as focal points for more powerful underlying drivers of domestic political legitimacy, popular nationalism, and regional order.
More Research on Energy and Environment

Briefings

Adapting to Climate Change on the Coast: Lessons from Louisiana for Federal Policy — Jan 23, 2013

What can be done to reduce the chances of widespread disaster when the next "Sandy" hits? Jordan Fischbach will discuss how climate change and other long-term challenges can affect coasts and the tools federal or state policymakers will need to address them.

The Impact of Air Pollution on Hospital Spending in California — Jun 24, 2010

John Romley presents findings from a study that suggests publicly funded insurers as well as employers and private insurers would benefit financially from reductions in air pollution—particularly in California, which has more people living in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards than any other state.

Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings — Apr 12, 2010

Ambassador Charles Ries discusses how energy efficiency in buildings affects energy security and climate change. He gives an overview of the European Union's and Australia's experiences driving energy efficiency in the building sector and the lessons the United States can learn from their efforts.

Costs and Benefits of Importing Oil into the United States — May 11, 2009

Director of RAND's Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program Keith Crane will present Imported Oil and U.S. National Security on May 11, 2009.

What Constitutes an Effective Approach to Limiting Greenhouse Gases? — Apr 13, 2009

The Obama administration and Congress have called enactment of a cap-and-trade program for limiting U.S. emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases a top priority. Our panelists will address some key questions about cap-and-trade programs that need to be resolved.
More Energy and Environment Briefings

Alerts & Newsletters

RAND periodically sends alerts and newsletters to update Congress on highlights of recent work about energy and the environment.

Managing Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste — Mar 26, 2013

nuclear-dry-storageThe Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future has called for creating a new, single-purpose organization whose sole task would be managing and disposing of nuclear waste. What model of governance is best suited to meet the substancial challenges of such a group?

SOTU Policy Preview — Feb 11, 2013

Preparing for the State of the Union address? Here is a preview of topics from President Obama's inaugural address that he may cover on Tuesday night, along with helpful links to related RAND analyses, reports, and commentary.

Converting Harmful Methane Emissions Into Useful Energy — Feb 11, 2013

Though methane does not stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it has 20 times the global warming potential. But methane can be captured and used, not only reducing methane emissions, but offering a cost-effective source of energy.

Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-level Radioactive Waste — Jan 11, 2013

The nation must agree upon a solution to the spent-nuclear fuel problem that meets safety and environmental standards. Congress will need to work with the Obama administration to determine the best governance form for the new organization. A RAND study finds that the two most promising models are a federal government corporation or an independent government agency.

Looking Beyond the 2012 U.S. Election — Oct 3, 2012

As the U.S. presidential election draws to a close, there is increasing demand for simple answers to complex questions, immediate solutions to entrenched challenges, and ten-second sound bites to sum it all up. RAND has always focused on big, long-term, core public policy issues and has cultivated the farsighted perspectives required to address those issues.

Reusing Coal Mine Water for Marcellus Shale Extraction — Apr 27, 2012

First-ever national standards for air emissions from shale gas extraction preceded new national regulations related to water pollution from hydraulic fracturing, another key issue which has thus-far been left to the individual states.

Earth Day: RAND Energy and Environment Research — Apr 19, 2012

The RAND Corporation's Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program helps lawmakers put policy proposals in context by analyzing the effects of existing and proposed energy policies on the environment.

Senior Staff SOTU Debrief from RAND Corporation — Jan 25, 2012

We've assembled a selection of RAND reports, journal articles, commentary, videos, and experts on these SOTU topics that provide you with analysis, insights, and ideas you can use in the months ahead.
Subscribe to Congressional Alerts & Newsletters

Testimony

Testimony on S. 937 The American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011

Testimony presented before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 7, 2011.

Opportunities for Alternative Fuels Production

Testimony presented before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power on May 5, 2011.

2010 and prior

November 12, 2010
Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies

Tom LaTourrette

Testimony presented before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future.

March 5, 2009
Research Priorities for Fossil Fuels

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

November 28, 2007
Evaluating Alternative Organizational Structures to Revitalize the Economy of New Orleans

Kevin F. McCarthy

Testimony presented before the New Orleans City Council.

September 5, 2007
Research and Development Issues for Producing Liquid Fuels from Coal

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented before the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

June 28, 2007
Policy Issues for Coal-to-Liquid Development

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented before the Commonwealth of Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

June 26, 2007
Policy Issues for Coal-to-Liquid Development: Addendum

James T. Bartis

Addendum to testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on May 24, 2007.

May 24, 2007
Policy Issues for Coal-to-Liquid Development

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

April 17, 2007
Policy Issues for Oil Shale Development

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented before the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

February 21, 2007
Beyond the Gas Tax: Alternatives for a Greener World

Martin Wachs

Testimony presented before the Los Angeles Field Hearing of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

September 26, 2006
Policy Issues for Alternative Fuels for Military Operations

James T. Bartis

Testimony presented to the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Readiness and Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.

February 9, 2004
Strengthening Research & Development for Wind Hazard Mitigation

Charles Meade

Testimony presented to the House Committee on Science.

November 19, 2003
Bio-Terrorist Threat to Agricultural Livestock and Produce

Peter Chalk

Testimony presented before the Senate Government Affairs Committee.

June 24, 2003
Assessing Natural Gas and Oil Resources

Debra Knopman

Testimony presented before the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

April 18, 2002
Assessing Gas and Oil Resources in the Intermountain West

Debra Knopman

Testimony presented before the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

October 10, 2001
Terrorism, Infrastructure Protection and The U.S. Food and Agricultural Sector

Peter Chalk

Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia, Committee on Government Affairs, U.S. Senate.

April 5, 2001
The U.S. Energy Crisis

Robert L. Hirsch

Testimony presented to the Subcommittee Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety, Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate.

More Testimony

Briefs

Addressing Coastal Vulnerabilities Through Comprehensive Planning: How RAND Supported the Development of Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan — 2013

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana used a new analytic approach, developed in part by RAND, that incorporates results from predictive models in a decision tool to allow formulation and comparison of alternatives.

Making Good Decisions Without Predictions: Robust Decision Making for Planning Under Deep Uncertainty — 2013

Quantitative analysis is often indispensable to sound planning. But with deep uncertainty, predictions can lead decisionmakers astray. Robust Decision Making supports good decisions without predictions by testing plans against many futures.

CLARA Flood Risk Model Supports Louisiana's Coastal Planning — 2012

The Coastal Louisiana Risk Assessment (CLARA) model estimates hurricane flood depths and damage and enables evaluation of potential flood risk reduction projects for inclusion in Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan.

Identifying a Cost-Effective Aviation Fleet for the U.S. Forest Service — 2012

This brief provides an overview of a RAND study to support the U.S. Forest Service in determining the composition of a fleet of airtankers, scoopers, and helicopters that would minimize the total social costs of wildfires.

Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Radioactive Materials — 2013

RAND researchers describe the attributes of potential organizational models and the steps needed to choose the form of a new organization charged with managing and disposing of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials.

More Energy and Environment Briefs

My RAND ?

Saved Items

Recommended

View My Profile

For More Information

Matthew Dicker

Legislative Analyst

(703) 413-1100, ext. 5320
Matthew_Dicker@rand.org

Matthew Dicker

Matthew Dicker is the legislative analyst at the RAND Corporation for education, transportation, energy and environment, the arts, and child policy issues. Prior to joining RAND, he was a legislative aide for Congressman Brad Sherman…

Related Topics