Energy Security

Public Utilities

commentary
An Affordable Energy Transition Will Require Supportive and Sensible Regulation
The transition to decarbonize the grid and to electrify end uses to reduce emissions will be challenging, and customer bills may increase in the short term. Regulators can help to keep utilities financially healthy and make a smoother energy transition possible.
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Nov 13, 2023
The National Interest
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Brian Wong

Military Technology

commentary
Do Generals Dream of Electric Tanks?
Members of the House Armed Services Committee have expressed concerns over the electrification of Army combat vehicles. Though such concerns have some merit, there is also a larger issue motivating research and development efforts—the growing demand for energy on the battlefield.
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Aug 8, 2023
The Hill
Fabian Villalobos @doktor_wolfhaus, Joshua Simulcik
Energy Security

commentary
Can China's Green Energy Acceleration Put at Risk the West's Hydrogen Plans?
Hydrogen (H2) plays a key role in the decarbonization plans of the European Union and the United States. Both have launched aggressive hydrogen strategies to increase the generation of H2 and deployment of related technologies. But these bold ambitions may face headwinds due to the acceleration of China's energy transition.
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Apr 3, 2023
The Hill
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Andrew Star, et al.
Russia

commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: The Economic Fallout
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, projections estimated global economic growth in 2022 would be around 5 percent. But the war in Ukraine contributed to slowed economic growth in 2022 and a slowed recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the broader consequences for the global economy?
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Mar 7, 2023
The RAND Blog
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Alternative and Renewable Energy

commentary
Puerto Rico's Food Security Must Factor in Planning Energy Security
The tragedy of disaster recovery has unlocked substantial capital for Puerto Rico to rewrite its interdependent security in energy and food. Considering food security in this context could help to ensure the population has access to both power and food.
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Feb 24, 2023
The National Interest
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Andrew Star, et al.
Energy Resources

commentary
Is Seabed Mining an Opportunity to Break China's Stranglehold on Critical Minerals Supply Chains?
China dominates global supply chains for nearly all critical mineral resources, including the rare earths that power decarbonization technologies. Seabed mining may be a way to diversify critical minerals supply chains and break China's stranglehold on supplies of some of the world's most important natural resources.
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Nov 21, 2022
RealClearWorld
Tom LaTourrette
Disaster Recovery Operations

commentary
Rebuilding Ukraine for a Changing Climate
When the war in Ukraine ends, the country will in all likelihood undergo a massive reconstruction. Ukraine could rebuild in a way that would both lower its carbon footprint and construct infrastructure resilient to the effects of climate change.
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Jul 8, 2022
The Hill
Mark Stalczynski, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, et al.
Energy Security

commentary
Is DarkSide Really Sorry? Is It Even DarkSide?
The U.S. military relies heavily on commercial energy assets, making the implications of events like the Colonial Pipeline outage more serious than just higher prices at the gas pump. The origins and severity of an attack dictate what the United States might do in response.
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May 19, 2021
Defense One
Anu Narayanan, Jonathan W. Welburn @jwwelburn
International Economic Relations

commentary
China Does Not Have to Be America's Enemy in the Middle East
China and Iran made a deal in which China promised to boost its investment in Iranian infrastructure in exchange for a steady supply of oil. This uptick in Chinese influence does not necessarily erode U.S. power in the region. The United States may even find overlapping interests with China since both have a stake in containing conflicts and instability.
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Apr 19, 2021
War on the Rocks
Ashley L. Rhoades, Dalia Dassa Kaye
Critical Infrastructure Protection

commentary
Now Is (Finally) the Time to Future-Proof Our Infrastructure
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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Apr 1, 2021
Civil Engineering Source
Constantine Samaras, Mikhail Chester
Energy Security

commentary
The Pentagon Could Help Improve Resilience of the U.S. Electric Grid
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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Mar 25, 2021
Defense News
Beth E. Lachman, Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright
Information Operations

blog
Russian Propaganda, Domestic Terrorism, America's Electric Grid: RAND Weekly Recap
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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Oct 16, 2020
Energy Security

commentary
The Downside of a Lean Electric Grid
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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Oct 13, 2020
The Hill
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
Energy Security

q&a
Thinking Outside the Grid: Q&A with Anu Narayanan
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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Mar 5, 2020
Turkey

blog
U.S.-Turkish Relations, Airports, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap
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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Jan 17, 2020
Developing Countries

essay
The Hot Spots of the World
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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Oct 13, 2016
commentary
Making Informed Investment Decisions in an Uncertain World
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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Feb 28, 2014
The World Bank Let's Talk Development Blog
Nidhi Kalra, Laura Bonzanigo
blog
State of the Union 2014: President Obama Calls for a Year of Action
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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Jan 29, 2014
Energy Security

blog
Using Air Power Against Pirates Off West Africa
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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Oct 25, 2013
United States

blog
The State of the Union 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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Feb 13, 2013
Algeria

commentary
The Motivations Behind the Amenas Terrorist Attack
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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Jan 29, 2013
The RAND Blog
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Global Security

commentary
The Mirage of the Arab Spring
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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Jan 3, 2013
Foreign Affairs Jan/Feb 2013
Seth G. Jones
Energy Security

commentary
Two Unspoken Issues in the Presidential Energy Debate
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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Nov 6, 2012
The Orange County Register
Keith Crane
Military Strategy

commentary
Will Iran Close the Strait of Hormuz?
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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Oct 2, 2012
The Iran Primer, USIP
Alireza Nader
Petroleum

blog
U.S. Military's Role with Petroleum Is to Assure Security
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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Jun 19, 2012
Military Budgets and Defense Spending

commentary
DoD Renewable Fuels Investment Premature
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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May 24, 2012
National Journal
Keith Crane
Security Cooperation

blog
Examining the Relationship Between China and Iran
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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May 3, 2012
q&a
Q and A: Alternative Fuels for Military Applications
Questions and answers regarding the RAND report: Alternative Fuels for Military Applications
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Jan 25, 2011
The RAND Blog
commentary
Steer a Smarter Course Than Specific Mileage Goals
Published commentary by RAND staff: Steer a Smarter Course Than Specific Mileage Goals, in the Detroit Free Press.
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Mar 16, 2007
Detroit Free Press
John D. Graham
commentary
C. Asia's Great Game
Published commentary by RAND staff: C. Asia's Great Game, in United Press International.
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Mar 5, 2007
United Press International
F. Stephen Larrabee
commentary
Central Asia's Other 'Turkmenbashis'
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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Jan 15, 2007
Project Syndicate
F. Stephen Larrabee
commentary
Fueling Opportunity
Published commentary by RAND staff: Fueling Opportunity in the Washington Times.
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May 19, 2006
Washington Times
John D. Graham
commentary
The Threat of Oil Jihad
Published commentary by RAND staff: The Threat of Oil Jihad, in United Press International.
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Mar 3, 2006
United Press International
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
commentary
Straight Talk on Turning Points
Published commentary by RAND staff: Straight Talk on Turning Points in San Francisco Chronicle.
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Oct 16, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle
Gregory F. Treverton