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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.

Commentary

Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization

Feb 24, 2017

While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.
Commentary

Getting (Solar) Electricity Pricing Right

Jul 24, 2017

Demand for rooftop solar panels is soaring among U.S. homeowners. Meanwhile, states are struggling to adapt a 20th-century electrical grid—and the corresponding cost structure for electricity rates—to this 21st-century reality. This is causing confusion and uncertainty.

Explore Alternative and Renewable Energy

Journal Article

Journal Article

Building Clean Energy Support with Young Millennials in the United States

This study analyzes awareness of local clean energy initiatives, risk perceptions, environmental messaging, and environmental orientation influence young millennial support for federal clean energy policy and taxes.

Jul 3, 2019
Journal Article

Pathways to 2050: Scenarios for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy

Climate change is among the most profound challenges of all time, and the private sector is an essential partner in any decarbonization pathway. Timely business leadership can help ensure choices that are beneficial for both companies and society as a whole.

Jun 4, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Performance Comparison of Solar Photovoltaic Models for Plant Siting in India

India will add 100 GW of solar electric power generation by 2022. This report examines the performance of four annual solar photovoltaic production models against actual generation data from utility-scale plants in Gujarat, India.

Jan 9, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Geographic Smoothing of Solar Photovoltaic Electric Power Production in the Western USA

We examined the geographic smoothing of solar photovoltaic generation from 15 utility-scale plants in California, Nevada, and Arizona and from 19 commercial building installations in California.

Nov 28, 2018
Commentary

A Better Way to Think About Scooters

Unleashed in Santa Monica, California, last September, Bird and its competitors are now in 30 American cities and counting. Cities are responding to the scooter takeover with new regulations and increased law enforcement. But if officials rely only on 20th-century tools to integrate these 21st-century scooters into their cities, they will miss a big opportunity.

Aug 28, 2018
Report

Report

Wanxiang Innovation Energy Fusion City: Recommendations for Developing an Innovation Cluster

RAND authors develop a mission statement and recommend policies to help achieve the Wanxiang Group's vision of developing the Wanxiang Innovation Energy Fusion City into an innovative cluster built around smart and green automotive technologies.

Sep 20, 2017
Report

Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program

Presents the results of a process and outcome evaluation of the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, relying on quantitative and qualitative methods.

Sep 6, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Green Industrial Policy in Emerging Markets

In this article, we review the evidence on the design and implementation of green industrial policies. We focus on emerging markets, and emphasize five lessons for the use of green industrial policy.

Aug 8, 2017
Dissertation

Dissertation

Let There Be Light: Green Industrial Policy and Energy Access in India

Explores the competitiveness of India's domestic manufacturing across the supply chain; barriers and enablers to developing a domestic industry; and the cost of industrial policy support.

Feb 27, 2017
Commentary

Investing in Infrastructure? Don't Forget the Electric Grid

Leaving the future of America's electricity grid to chance should not be an option. To maximize the potential benefits of a multibillion-dollar smart grid investment, a closer examination of technology and policy is needed.

Dec 7, 2016
Commentary

States Could Step Up on Climate Change

The new administration has expressed skepticism about climate change. But states may choose to pursue their own climate change initiatives.

Nov 26, 2016
Report

Report

Scenario Development for the 2015 Quadrennial Energy Review: Assessing Stresses, Opportunities, and Resilience in the Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Systems for Oil and Refined-Oil Products, Electricity, and Natural Gas

RAND researchers developed a framework and metrics for examining vulnerabilities, opportunities, and risks to U.S. energy transmission, storage, and distribution systems through 2030 under a range of uncertainties.

Sep 27, 2016
Dissertation

Dissertation

Improving Energy Security for Air Force Installations

Develops a methodology and tool that will allow installation commanders and energy managers the ability to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of various energy investment options.

Nov 23, 2015
Commentary

China Can Fix Its Severe Pollution Problem

China's economic transformation over the last three decades has produced potentially deadly air pollution its people inhale every day. But an investment of $215 billion annually could substantially reduce pollution, lessen its drag on productivity, spare the lungs of countless people, and save lives.

Jan 19, 2015
Report

How Can China Reduce Its Air Pollution, and How Much Will It Cost?

Air pollution has been one of the most harmful consequences of China's last three decades of economic transformation and growth. China must address its air-pollution problem soon, but approaches to improve air quality come at a cost.

Jan 12, 2015
Commentary

In South Africa, Bold Investments Turn Trash into Treasure

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.

Dec 3, 2014
Commentary

New Coal Plant Rules Need Sustained Support to Succeed

Stopping climate change will require the U.S. and the rest of the world to virtually eliminate emissions over the course of the 21st century. Getting anywhere close to zero emissions demands sustained political and public support, driven by an energy production sector given enough incentives.

Jun 30, 2014
Dissertation

Policy Impacts on Wind and Solar Innovation

Predicting the effects of climate policies on energy use and the economy requires understanding how they will affect innovation. This study helps fill research gaps by using the number of relevant academic journal articles published per month as a proxy for innovation in wind and solar energy.

Oct 16, 2013

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Benjamin Lee Preston

Director, Community Health and Environmental Policy Program

Benjamin Preston (he/his) is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and director of Community Health and Environmental Policy, a program of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. He is also a professor at Pardee RAND Graduate School. His recent research efforts include understanding…
James D. Powers

Quality Assurance Manager, RAND National Security Research Division

James D. Powers is a RAND senior engineer and the Quality Assurance Manager for the Natrional Security Research Division. Since joining RAND in 2011, Powers has led or co-led projects on F-35 cost reduction, cybersecurity in Air Force acquisition, Air Force energy assurance, and advanced…

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