Publications on Energy Sources, Technology and Policy

EEED conducts extensive research on the topic of energy sources, technology, and policy. This page provides a complete, chronological list of our publications. To learn more about our research, and to see lists of publications on specific topics, please visit our Energy Sources, Technology and Policy program area.

2012

Coal Mine Drainage for Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction: Proceedings and Recommendations from a Roundtable on Feasibility and Challenges — April 16, 2012

These proceedings recount discussions held during a December 14, 2011, roundtable conference on the feasibility and potential benefits of using coal mine water in hydraulic fracturing operations in the Marcellus Shale formation.

Energy Services Analysis: An Alternative Approach for Identifying Opportunities to Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases — April 10, 2012

This report uses energy services analysis (ESA) to examine possibilities for changing how a service is delivered. ESA is used to analyze how changes in two services -- news delivery and personal mobility -- might reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.

2011

Characterizing the U.S. Industrial Base for Coal-Powered Electricity — October 27, 2011

This monograph reviews interviews with stakeholders in the U.S. domestic coal-based electricity generation industry and data describing key elements of industry capability and validation or verification of concerns about it.

Valuation of Plug-In Vehicle Life-Cycle Air Emissions and Oil Displacement Benefits — October 1, 2011

To reduce air emission and oil dependency impacts from passenger vehicles, strategies to promote adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles with small battery packs offer more social benefits per dollar spent.

Recommended Research Priorities for the Qatar Foundation's Environment and Energy Research Institute — September 22, 2011

The Qatar Foundation is establishing a national research institute to conduct energy, environment, and water research. This book recommends research priorities for the institute and reports on a survey of related research institutions in the region.

Near-Term Opportunities for Integrating Biomass into the U.S. Electricity Supply: Technical Considerations — July 29, 2011

Biomass is an increasingly important source of electricity, heat, and liquid fuel. This report examines changes to power plants and their operations, costs of cofiring biomass, and logistical issues associated with delivering biomass to the plant.

Testimony on S. 937 The American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011: Addendum — June 30, 2011

Document submitted on June 29, 2011 as an addendum to testimony presented before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 7, 2011.

Testimony on S. 937 The American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011 — June 7, 2011

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

Alternative Fuel Provisions in HR 909: The Roadmap for America's Energy Future — June 3, 2011

Testimony presented before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power on June 3, 2011.

Opportunities for Alternative Fuels Production — May 5, 2011

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

Supplying Biomass to Power Plants: A Model of the Costs of Utilizing Agricultural Biomass in Cofired Power Plants — March 29, 2011

Biomass energy is a renewable resource with lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. The model described here estimates cost and availability of these resources from U.S. agricultural lands for an individual power plant.

The Option of an Oil Tax to Fund Transportation and Infrastructure — February 22, 2011

This paper discusses using an oil tax to fund U.S. transportation infrastructure, identifies the decisions Congress would need to make in designing such a tax, and outlines some of the likely implications of adopting an oil tax.

Advancing Aeronautics: A Decision Framework for Selecting Research Agendas — February 17, 2011

Develops a unified decisionmaking approach for selecting aeronautics research agendas that quantifies the social and economic reasons for the research, balances competing perspectives, and enables transparent explanation of the resulting decisions.

The Economic Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under a U.S. National Renewable Electricity Mandate — January 1, 2011

The authors perform a technical and economic assessment and estimate the economic costs and net GHG reductions from U.S renewable electricity mandates. GHG emissions reductions from such policies could be as much as 670 million metric tons per year. Depending on technological development, economic costs are $13-$45 billion per year. Lower costs depend on favorable technological progress.

2010

System Trials to Demonstrate Mileage-Based Road Use Charges — February 11, 2011

Explore options for conducting a set of trials to test the feasibility of transitioning from fuel excise taxes to a system of road use charges based on vehicle miles of travel.

Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies — November 8, 2010

Testimony presented before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future on November 15, 2010.

Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel: Strategy Alternatives and Policy Implications — November 5, 2010

The United States has yet to implement a strategy for managing spent nuclear fuel. This book examines technical and institutional approaches to spent fuel management and highlights policy implications of pursuing alternative strategies.

2009

Natural Gas and Israel's Energy Future: Planning Amid Deep Uncertainty — December 22, 2009

Israel must control future electricity demand. It can build a secure energy infrastructure in which natural gas provides up to 40 percent of electric power generation but only by taking measures to limit supply disruptions.

Natural Gas and Israel's Energy Future: Near-Term Decisions from a Strategic Perspective — December 15, 2009

By applying new methods for strategic planning and decisionmaking under deep uncertainty, this analysis seeks to help Israel manage change by choosing robust strategies that minimize potential consequences of relying more heavily on natural gas.

Natural Gas and Israel's Energy Future: A Strategic Analysis Under Conditions of Deep Uncertainty — December 10, 2009

Israel must employ strategic alternatives to make the best use of domestic and imported natural gas. This report explores natural gas-utilization and supply-infrastructure strategies in the face of uncertainty.

Near-Term Feasibility of Alternative Jet Fuels — October 13, 2009

Aviation has few near-term options to petroleum-based fuels. Alternative fuels that may be available in the next decade may reduce aviation's impact on air quality and benefit nonaviation sectors.

Strengthening U.S. International Energy Assistance to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Energy Security — September 10, 2009

U.S. international energy-assistance programs, a potentially important tool for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security, are reviewed and compared with German programs; recommendations are made for further study.

Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning from the European Union and Australia — September 4, 2009

A review of recent European and Australian experience in the design and implementation of policies to improve energy efficiency of buildings and insights to aid U.S. designers of analogous policies.

Fast-Forward: Key Issues in Modernizing the U.S. Freight-Transportation System for Future Economic Growth — June 5, 2009

Describes approaches to modernizing the U.S. freight-transportation system that require whole-system modeling, engagement of all stakeholders, and an understanding of the interdependence between local and national costs and benefits.

Does Imported Oil Threaten U.S. National Security? — May 5, 2009

U.S. reliance on oil risks the economic costs of disruption in global oil supplies. The United States would reduce the national security costs of importing oil by supporting well-functioning oil markets and imposing an oil excise tax.