RAND: Energy and Environment: Documents Available Online 2008-08-26T06:41:57Z Copyright (c) 2007-2008, The RAND Corporation Bricolage RAND Corporation urn:uuid:760E5394-41D4-11DB-A3BD-CE1F1D4D57CE The State of U.S. Railroads: A Review of Capacity and Performance Data urn:uuid:F5A606C2-63AD-11DD-8633-DAEA38788F35 2008-08-18T21:02:00Z 2008-08-21T08:10:47Z U.S. railroads have improved their productivity, but increasing freight volume threatens to cause performance-degrading capacity constraints. This report describes the current state of railroad capacity and performance for freight transportation. RAND Energy & Environment Researcher Guide urn:uuid:AFF722E4-4DB1-11DD-AAA1-E4D638788F35 2008-07-16T06:59:00Z 2008-07-16T07:00:00Z RAND researchers address pressing issues of relevance to U.S. and international audiences such as environmental quality and regulation, energy resources and systems, water resources and systems, climate change, and natural hazards and disasters. Impacts on U.S. Energy Expenditures and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions of Increasing Renewable-Energy Use urn:uuid:4228FA88-3D32-11DD-AF9F-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-24T06:00:00Z 2008-06-24T06:05:00Z This report assesses the potential impact on U.S. consumer energy expenditures and CO2 emissions if 25 percent of U.S. electric power and motor fuels come from renewable resources by 2025. RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 1, Spring 2008 urn:uuid:1F1B4060-1063-11DD-8EFC-E1BD38788F35 2008-04-30T05:46:00Z 2008-08-18T05:38:48Z The cover story compares neonatal services across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden; other features discuss water resources management, U.S. policies in Asia, and political polarization. Policy Insight, Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2008: New Engines and Fuels for Cars and Light Trucks urn:uuid:D95B168A-00D7-11DD-B5C6-80F038788F35 2008-04-11T07:36:00Z 2008-04-11T07:37:00Z Discusses the benefits and costs of gasoline-electric hybrid technology, advanced diesel technology, and vehicles powered by a blend of ethanol and gasoline, as well as potential improvements to the traditional gasoline engine. Identifying and Reducing Climate-Change Vulnerabilities in Water-Management Plans urn:uuid:C56B1FF6-CB46-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-31T10:01:00Z 2008-03-31T04:32:05Z This research brief summarizes work with Southern California's Inland Empire Utilities Agency to help it identify climate-change vulnerabilities in its long-term water plans and evaluate its most effective options for managing those risks. Presenting Uncertainty About Climate Change to Water-Resource Managers: A Summary of Workshops with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency urn:uuid:BF4D1EA8-BD22-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-31T10:00:00Z 2008-01-31T12:32:18Z RAND researchers are working with water agencies in California to help them better understand how climate change might affect their systems and what actions they may need to take to address this challenge. This report documents the study. Preparing for an Uncertain Future Climate in the Inland Empire: Identifying Robust Water-Management Strategies urn:uuid:67C9014E-CB80-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-31T10:00:00Z 2008-03-26T07:13:44Z This briefing presents an analysis of how different adaptive water-management strategies may reduce Southern California's vulnerability to climate change and other planning uncertainties. Estimating the Value of Water-Use Efficiency in the Intermountain West urn:uuid:BE2915C2-BD22-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-01-10T10:21:00Z 2008-01-31T10:02:00Z This study presents an economic framework for estimating the avoided costs and environmental benefits of increasing water-use efficiency. The report demonstrates this framework by evaluating the benefits of Denver Water efficiency programs. RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 3, Fall 2007 urn:uuid:A47F129E-A3F9-11DC-9212-193339788F35 2007-12-20T04:48:00Z 2008-08-19T06:08:08Z The cover story issues a midterm report card for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Other features discuss prescription drug benefit plans for the elderly and different types of ungoverned territories around the world. In the Name of Entrepreneurship?: The Logic and Effects of Special Regulatory Treatment for Small Business urn:uuid:EE69D27E-8264-11DC-835C-2D1239788F35 2007-12-10T06:47:00Z 2008-01-21T12:29:56Z What are the differential effects of regulation and policy on small businesses? What is the impact of special regulatory treatment for small businesses? This book offers analysis of key public policy issues with implications for small businesses. Do Benefits of Sarbanes-Oxley Justify the Costs?: Empirical Evidence in the Case of Small Firms urn:uuid:044C36D6-A1AF-11DC-B2A7-193339788F35 2007-12-10T06:47:00Z 2007-12-10T06:49:00Z This research brief summarizes the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) on small firms based on a review of studies of relative compliance costs, stock-price reactions, and exit patterns from the public market. Is Special Regulatory Treatment for Small Businesses Working as Intended? urn:uuid:629EA948-A3F9-11DC-9BA6-193339788F35 2007-12-10T06:47:00Z 2007-12-10T06:49:00Z This research brief summarizes a compilation of studies on several kinds of regulation of small firms and their intended and actual effects, as well as how to ensure that such regulations have the effects intended. State Insurance Mandates and Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Are They Helping Small Business Provide Health Insurance to Employees? urn:uuid:BB3F6164-A4C6-11DC-A60A-BABE38788F35 2007-12-10T06:47:00Z 2007-12-10T06:49:00Z This research brief describes the effects of state health-insurance mandates and consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) on the access to and affordability of health insurance for small businesses. Evaluating Alternative Organizational Structures to Revitalize the Economy of New Orleans urn:uuid:D83ADCAE-9D27-11DC-B0F6-E2BD38788F35 2007-11-28T11:00:00Z 2008-06-06T13:57:06Z Testimony presented before the New Orleans City Council on November 28, 2007. Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Increased Water-Use Efficiency in Commercial Buildings urn:uuid:40A15D44-7BE1-11DC-AB36-E2BD38788F35 2007-10-24T11:40:00Z 2007-12-12T11:17:36Z This report presents an analytical framework and describes a spreadsheet-based tool to help commercial building owners make reasoned judgments about various water-efficiency investment options. A New Tool Can Help Commercial-Building Owners Make Better Water-Efficiency Decisions urn:uuid:654E4026-80D2-11DC-9C68-2D1239788F35 2007-10-24T11:40:00Z 2007-12-14T13:25:48Z This fact sheet describes a case study of commercial-building water efficiency and the Building Water Efficiency Analysis Model used to conduct it. The model allows convenient assessment of potential value of water-efficiency investments. Research and Development Issues for Producing Liquid Fuels from Coal urn:uuid:DADEE398-5AF5-11DC-911D-33C1F7A557C7 2007-09-05T08:00:00Z 2008-06-06T13:57:06Z Testimony presented before the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment on September 5, 2007. U.S. Policy Options for Iraq: A Reassessment urn:uuid:1C3AA48E-3563-11DC-9010-64E9D44B69C5 2007-08-08T15:00:00Z 2007-12-07T16:23:10Z This book examines possible U.S. strategies for Iraq. It argues that the United States must focus on providing security to Iraq's population and emphasizes the need for policymakers to prepare and plan not only for success, but also for failure. The United States Should Reassess Priorities and Consider Next Steps in Iraq urn:uuid:3EB0D438-3C3A-11DC-8791-64E9D44B69C5 2007-08-08T15:00:00Z 2007-12-14T13:24:57Z This research brief summarizes an assessment of approaches that the U.S. government can consider in its efforts to reduce sectarian violence and stabilize Iraq, recommendations to increase the likelihood of success, and possible next steps to take.