RAND Research Topic: Alternative and Renewable Energy 2012-05-24T20:13:55Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/alternative-and-renewable-energy.html Exploring the Nexus of Energy Sources, Technology, and Policy http://www.rand.org/ise/environ/areas/energy.html Feb 27, 2012 Feb 27, 2012 Energy plays a vital role in the success of the global economy, but obtaining and using energy can also impact the environment. RAND researchers in the Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program help policymakers worldwide make informed decisions on meeting their nations' energy needs while mitigating long-term life cycle environmental risks. DoD Renewable Fuels Investment Premature http://www.rand.org/commentary/2012/05/23/NJ.html May 23, 2012 May 23, 2012 Technological development challenges suggest that it is highly unlikely that advanced approaches for producing hydrotreated renewable oils suitable for military applications will constitute an important fraction of the commercial fuel market until well beyond the next decade, writes Keith Crane. Potentials for Sustainable Transportation in Cities to Alleviate Climate Change Impacts http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120044.html Jan 1, 2012 Jan 1, 2012 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) is an important social goal to mitigate climate change. A common mitigation paradigm is to consider strategy "wedges" that can be applied to different activities to achieve desired GHG reductions. Calculating Uncertainty in Biomass Emissions (CUBE) Model http://www.rand.org/ise/projects/bioemissions.html Dec 15, 2011 Dec 15, 2011 CUBE 2.0, an update of the 2010 release of the 1.0 version, allows users to estimate the "farm-to-gate" greenhouse gas emissions of biomass feedstocks for energy production, as well as the uncertainty in these emissions. Beneficial Collaboration Between Army Installations and Energy Utility Companies http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1126.html Oct 27, 2011 Oct 27, 2011 U.S. Army installation energy costs around the globe totaled more than $1.2 billion in 2010. Collaborating with energy utility companies could help the Army to decrease energy usage, lower costs, and meet legislative mandates. The benefits for utility companies include energy conservation and support for renewable energy technologies. Collaboration Between Army Installations and Energy Utility Companies http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9613.html Oct 26, 2011 Oct 26, 2011 Explores how the Army can improve collaboration with utility companies to reduce energy consumption on its installations and help meet other Army energy goals. Near-Term Opportunities for Integrating Biomass into the U.S. Electricity Supply http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR984.html Aug 2, 2011 Aug 2, 2011 Biomass is an increasingly important source of electricity, heat, and liquid fuel. One near-term option for using it to generate electricity is to cofire biomass in coal-fired electricity plants. Factors to consider are plant-site modifications, changes in operations, costs, and logistical issues with delivering biomass to the plant. Incorporating Uncertainty Analysis Into Life Cycle Estimates of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Biomass Production http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100113.html Jun 30, 2011 Jun 30, 2011 This paper provides a framework for incorporating uncertainty analysis specifically into estimates of the life cycle GHG emissions from the production of biomass. Testimony on S. 937 The American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011: Addendum http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT364z1.html Jun 30, 2011 Jun 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 http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT364.html Jun 7, 2011 Jun 7, 2011 Testimony presented before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 7, 2011. Opportunities for Alternative Fuels: The Roadmap for America's Energy Future http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT363.html Jun 3, 2011 Jun 3, 2011 Achieving the potential economic and national security benefits offered by alternative fuels requires that their domestic production must be an appreciable fraction of domestic demand for liquid fuels. Alternative fuels derived from oil shale and coal have the potential to meet that important criterion. Opportunities for Alternative Fuels Production http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT360.html May 5, 2011 May 5, 2011 Testimony presented before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power on May 5, 2011. Gays in the Military: Eventually, New Facts Conquer Old Taboos http://www.rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/CP22-2011-04.html Apr 29, 2011 Apr 29, 2011 This <em>RAND Review</em> cover story describes RAND's research and analysis of sexual orientation and U.S. military personnel policy relating to the likely repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Should Power Plants Consider Using Biomass Energy as an Alternative to Fossil Fuels? http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR876.html Apr 8, 2011 Apr 8, 2011 U.S. power plants seek to diversify their fuel sources and biomass energy is a renewable resource that generally has lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. This model estimates the cost and availability of biomass energy resources from U.S. agricultural lands from the perspective of an individual power plant. No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG969.html Jan 24, 2011 Jan 24, 2011 If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces. It makes more sense for the military to direct its efforts toward using energy more efficiently. No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/01/25.html Jan 24, 2011 Jan 24, 2011 If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces. The Economic Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under a U.S. National Renewable Electricity Mandate http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20110093.html Dec 31, 2010 Dec 31, 2010 <p>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.</p> Alternative Fuels Production Incentives http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR586.html Sep 15, 2010 Sep 15, 2010 The U.S. Congress and federal agencies are considering legislative proposals to promote the development of unconventional fuels in the United States. RAND assessed the effectiveness of various federal financial incentive packages that could successfully promote early commercial experience with coal-to-liquids production. Documentation for the Calculating Uncertainty in Biomass Emissions Model, Version 1.0 (CUBE 1.0): Contents and Use http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20101303.html Dec 31, 2009 Dec 31, 2009 <p>This report accompanies the Calculating Uncertainty in Biomass Emissions model, version 1.0 (CUBE 1.0), and provides explanation of model content and use. It is intended to complement extensive documentation contained in the model itself. CUBE 1.0, available for download on the NETL website, determines the life cycle GHG emissions of biomass feedstocks from planting the biomass to delivery to the bioenergy plant gate (&quot;farm-to-gate&quot;). Included are emissions associated with feedstock production, transportation, and processing. The feedstocks in CUBE 1.0 include three dedicated energy crops (corn grain, switchgrass, and mixed prairie biomass) and two biomass residues (forest residue and mill residue)</p>