Energy Security

Critical Infrastructure Protection
commentary
Now Is (Finally) the Time to Future-Proof Our Infrastructure
Constantine Samaras, Mikhail Chester
Apr 1, 2021
Civil Engineering Source
The world is barreling toward a more volatile climate with infrastructure designed for the past. With infrastructure widely expected to be prioritized in Congress soon, every infrastructure bill is also a climate bill. It is critical that we make our infrastructure climate-safe.
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Energy Security
commentary
The Pentagon Could Help Improve Resilience of the U.S. Electric Grid
Beth E. Lachman, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright
Mar 25, 2021
Defense News
The resilience and robustness of the U.S. electric grid needs to be improved, especially given the likely increased occurrence and magnitude of natural disasters due to climate change. This is where government entities that operate large facilities in the United States, such as the Department of Defense, can potentially play a role.
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Information Operations
blog
Russian Propaganda, Domestic Terrorism, America's Electric Grid: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 16, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans react to Russian memes on Facebook, the possibility of domestic terrorism during election season, protecting the U.S. electric grid, and more.
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Energy Security
commentary
The Downside of a Lean Electric Grid
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
Oct 13, 2020
The Hill
The electric grid is central to U.S. national security. Recent disasters provide an example of the downsides of leanness. It's more costly to be less lean, but given our dependence on the electric grid and the increasing prevalence of disasters, safety and resilience may be greater priorities.
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Energy Security
q&a
Thinking Outside the Grid: Q&A with Anu Narayanan
Mar 5, 2020
Anu Narayanan, an engineer at RAND, is a specialist in what-ifs. Her research focuses on critical infrastructure and national security. In this interview, she discusses her latest work that explores what would happen if a cyberattacker tried to take down the power grid.
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Turkey
blog
U.S.-Turkish Relations, Airports, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 17, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the future of the U.S.-Turkish partnership, helping America's commercial airports meet rising demand, the opioid crisis, and more.
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Developing Countries
essay
The Hot Spots of the World
Oct 13, 2016
Scarcity of food, energy, and water endangers the lives of millions. So RAND created a tool with the potential to help make aid initiatives more effective.
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Economic Development
commentary
Making Informed Investment Decisions in an Uncertain World
Nidhi Kalra, Laura Bonzanigo
Feb 28, 2014
The World Bank Let's Talk Development Blog
Changing how we make development decisions requires a cultural shift as much as it requires an analytical shift. Methodological innovations like Robust Decision Making can help. By motivating and equipping analysts to manage uncertainty, they can shape how we think about, discuss, and make decisions.
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Politics and Government
blog
State of the Union 2014: President Obama Calls for a Year of Action
Jan 29, 2014
Obama called for “a year of action” to achieve his 2014 agenda — from helping people sign up for health insurance, to immigration reform, to completing the mission in Afghanistan. RAND is committed to raising the level of public policy debates and offering evidence-based, actionable solutions.
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Energy Security
blog
Using Air Power Against Pirates Off West Africa
Oct 25, 2013
A U.S. Official has confirmed that two mariners thought to be U.S. Citizens were kidnapped from an American ship in a pirate attack off of the West African coast — the 40th such attack reported in the Gulf of Guinea in 2013. The current security situation in the Gulf has affected petroleum and natural gas production.
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United States
blog
The State of the Union 2013
Feb 13, 2013
The 2013 SOTU address will be remembered for its impassioned call for greater gun control just two months after Sandy Hook. But President Obama's second-term agenda can be characterized by its sheer breadth, reflecting the broad range of policy challenges facing the United States today.
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Algeria
commentary
The Motivations Behind the Amenas Terrorist Attack
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jan 29, 2013
The RAND Blog
An attack of this complexity would have required months of reconnaissance, planning, recruiting of inside confederates, and training of participants. France's intervention in Mali was used to “justify” an attack that would likely have taken place anyway, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
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Global Security
commentary
The Mirage of the Arab Spring
Seth G. Jones
Jan 3, 2013
Foreign Affairs Jan/Feb 2013
Like it or not, the United States counts among its allies a number of authoritarian Arab countries, and they are essential partners in protecting its interests, writes Seth G. Jones. The normative hope that liberal democracy may flourish in the future must be balanced by the need to work with governments and societies as they exist today.
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Energy Security
commentary
Two Unspoken Issues in the Presidential Energy Debate
Keith Crane
Nov 6, 2012
The Orange County Register
Both candidates glossed over two issues: the myth that independence from imported oil will reduce gasoline prices and the policies that will be needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and temper climate change, writes Keith Crane.
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Military Strategy
commentary
Will Iran Close the Strait of Hormuz?
Alireza Nader
Oct 2, 2012
The Iran Primer, USIP
Just by threatening to close the Strait, Iran increases pressure on the U.S. to restrain Israel from attacking Iran. Other key players—including major oil importers such as China, Japan, and India—would be reluctant to support military action because of heavy dependence on Persian Gulf oil, writes Alireza Nader.
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Petroleum
blog
U.S. Military's Role with Petroleum Is to Assure Security
Jun 19, 2012
When the U.S. Department of Defense purchases oil, it has almost no effect on world oil prices, according to new RAND reports. That means reducing fuel consumption is the only effective way for the Pentagon to cut its petroleum expenses.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
commentary
DoD Renewable Fuels Investment Premature
Keith Crane
May 24, 2012
National Journal
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.
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Security Cooperation
blog
Examining the Relationship Between China and Iran
May 3, 2012
The partnership between China and Iran presents challenges to U.S. interests, including dissuading Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability.
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commentary
Steer a Smarter Course Than Specific Mileage Goals
John D. Graham
Mar 16, 2007
Detroit Free Press
Published commentary by RAND staff: Steer a Smarter Course Than Specific Mileage Goals, in the Detroit Free Press.
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commentary
C. Asia's Great Game
F. Stephen Larrabee
Mar 5, 2007
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff: C. Asia's Great Game, in United Press International.
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commentary
Central Asia's Other 'Turkmenbashis'
F. Stephen Larrabee
Jan 15, 2007
Project Syndicate
Published commentary by RAND staff: Central Asia's Other 'Turkmenbashis', in Project Syndicate--an association that distributes commentaries to 291 newspapers in 115 countries.
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commentary
Fueling Opportunity
John D. Graham
May 19, 2006
Washington Times
Published commentary by RAND staff: Fueling Opportunity in the Washington Times.
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commentary
The Threat of Oil Jihad
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Mar 3, 2006
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff: The Threat of Oil Jihad, in United Press International.
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commentary
Straight Talk on Turning Points
Gregory F. Treverton
Oct 16, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle
Published commentary by RAND staff: Straight Talk on Turning Points in San Francisco Chronicle.
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