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Alternative and Renewable Energy

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High oil prices and growing worries about climate change have heightened interest in alternative and renewable energy sources, but these frequently cost more than fossil fuels. RAND has explored the feasibility of using renewable resources such as wind power and ethanol to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance energy security, and analyzed the likely effects of such technologies on consumer energy costs.

  • Soldiers walking through Afghan wheat field

    Report

    Near-Term Opportunities for Integrating Biomass into the U.S. Electricity Supply

    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.

  • The Mariannhill landfill site in Durban, South Africa

    Commentary

    In South Africa, Bold Investments Turn Trash into Treasure

    Dec 3, 2014

    In South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, investments made over the past 20 years have created a dump with a difference. Rather than being a blight on the neighborhood of Mariannhill, the state-of-the-art Mariannhill Landfill Conservancy is an asset.

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