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Energy

Energy plays a vital role in the global economy: fossil fuel dependency, the stability of the supply chain, and the prospects for harnessing previously untapped resources affect a range of policy concerns, from national security and international affairs to economic development and climate change. RAND's energy research covers the spectrum from energy conservation and security to emerging technologies and energy use by the U.S. armed forces.

Journal Article

Estimating Regional Air-Quality Damages from Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction in Pennsylvania

Producing natural gas from shale generates air pollutant emissions. RAND researchers provided a first-order estimate of air emissions, and the monetary value of the associated damages, from the extraction of shale gas in Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 2013
Report

Modernizing the Mobility Air Force for Tomorrow's Air Traffic Management System

Building on RAND work examining the cost-effectiveness of modernizing the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 aerial refueling tanker to comply with airspace modernization mandates, this study extended the analysis to the C-5, C-17, C-130, and KC-135 fleets.

Dec 6, 2012
Report

Can More Be Done to Improve Energy Security in the Gulf of Guinea?

Improving the security of the Gulf of Guinea's oil infrastructure would increase output and promote additional investment, to the benefit of oil importing nations. The U.S. Air Force has expertise that could help build local security capabilities.

Nov 21, 2012
Commentary

Chinese-Iranian Ties in the Face of the Nuclear Crisis

The U.S. effort to isolate and pressure Iran in order to extract concessions on the nuclear program faces a significant vulnerability: the ties between Iran and the People’s Republic of China, writes Alireza Nader.

Nov 12, 2012
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.

Nov 6, 2012
Journal Article

What Works in Changing Energy-Using Behaviours in the Home? A Rapid Evidence Assessment: Final Report

In November 2012, the Department of Energy and Climate Change unveiled the UK's national Energy Efficiency Strategy, setting out the direction of their policy for the coming decades. RAND Europe's research on

Nov 1, 2012
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.

Oct 2, 2012
Blog

Farsighted Leadership in a Shortsighted World: 9 Issues That Deserve Attention During the 2012 U.S. Presidential Debates and Beyond

For nearly 65 years, RAND has cultivated the farsighted perspectives required to address the big, long-term public policy issues. In an effort to look beyond the 2012 U.S. election and promote “farsighted leadership in a shortsighted world,” the latest edition of the RAND Corporation’s magazine offers commentaries that transcend partisan rhetoric and foster policies that both presidential candidates could well accept.

Sep 24, 2012
News Release

RAND Review Election Coverage Points to Policies of 'Farsighted Leadership'

In an effort to look beyond the 2012 U.S. election and promote "farsighted leadership in a shortsighted world," the latest edition of the RAND Corporation's magazine offers commentaries intended to transcend partisan rhetoric and foster policies that both presidential candidates could well accept.

Sep 21, 2012
Periodical

RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 2, Fall 2012

The cover story focuses on nine key issues in the 2012 U.S. presidential election: income inequality, health care costs, immigration reform, energy options, education, al Qaeda, Iraq, democratization in the Middle East, and China.

Sep 21, 2012
Report

Creating an Innovation System for Knowledge City: Chinese Translation

Knowledge City is a planned environmentally and technologically advanced city in China's Guangzhou Development District. This report analyzes innovation systems and outlines the steps GDD will need to take to make Knowledge City a success.

Sep 20, 2012
Report

Creating an Innovation System for Knowledge City

Knowledge City is a planned environmentally and technologically advanced city in China's Guangzhou Development District. This report analyzes innovation systems and outlines the steps GDD will need to take to make Knowledge City a success.

Sep 20, 2012
Commentary

Assessing the Iranian Sanctions

The sanctions have imposed economic costs and have effectively signaled that not only the United States, but much of the rest of the world, see Iran's policies on nuclear enrichment as a serious potential threat to the region and the world, writes Keith Crane.

Jul 9, 2012
Journal Article

Sustaining Critical Social Services During Extended Regional Power Blackouts

This article outlines and estimates the incremental cost of a strategy that uses small distributed generation, distribution automation, and smart meters to keep a set of critical social services operational during a prolonged power outage that lasts for days or weeks and extends over hundreds of kilometers.

Jul 1, 2012
Journal Article

The Fading Arab Oil Empire

The author discusses the geostrategic importance of the Middle East.

Jul 1, 2012
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.

Jun 19, 2012
Report

U.S. Air Force Engagement with Turkey on Energy Security Looks Promising

Turkey aspires to become a key transit state for moving both natural gas and oil from the Caspian region and from the broader Middle East via pipelines crossing its territory. U.S.-Turkish cooperation on energy security issues offers a promising yet modest opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Jun 19, 2012
Report

What Can Be Done to Increase Asia's Sea-Lane Security?

The sea lanes that supply Asia's energy needs are already vulnerable to geopolitical concerns and the threat of piracy. One approach to protecting them would be employ multiple U.S. military and government elements; a second would be to promote the capabilities of and cooperation among nations in the region.

Jun 19, 2012
Report

Understanding Potential Air Force Roles in Promoting International Energy Security

Energy purchases made by the U.S. DoD do not influence world oil prices, making cutting fuel use the only effective choice to reduce what the Pentagon spends on it. The U.S. military can continue to have an important role in promoting stability in major oil producing regions and by helping protect the flow of energy through major transit corridors and on the high seas.

Jun 19, 2012
News Release

U.S. Military's Role with Petroleum Is to Assure Security

Energy purchases made by the U.S. Department of Defense do not influence world oil prices, making cutting fuel use the only effective choice to reduce what the Pentagon spends on petroleum fuels.

Jun 18, 2012

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