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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.

Dissertation

Competition and Collaboration: A Comparison of U.S. and Chinese Energy Outward Direct Investment

Compares and contrasts the characteristics, current positions, and future trends of both the U.S. and Chinese energy outward direct investments.

Feb 5, 2015
Commentary

ISIS Aims to Occupy Mecca

As ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reaches for control of the holy sites in and around Mecca and Medina and the wealth that comes with them, the U.S., NATO, and others should consider providing significant equipment and know-how to shore up the border defenses of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan.

Jan 19, 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
Commentary

Can Eurasian Energy Compete?

Cheaper oil, government interference, and market dynamics jeopardize the future of Russian and Caspian energy. To be globally competitive, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan should let the private sector play a greater role and make more decisions on commercial, rather than political grounds.

Jan 16, 2015
Report

The Adoption of New Smart-Grid Technologies

A smart grid for the United States could have large-scale benefits. There are technological, economic, and regulatory barriers, but new policies or changes to policy could help overcome them.

Jan 15, 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
Journal Article

Bringing Online in Line: Contribution to an Impact Assessment for the Delegated Act to Implement the Online Provisions of the Revised Energy Related Products Directive

Objectives for the Delegated Act are directly derived from the Energy Related Products Directive, and specifically aimed at the online environment.

Dec 29, 2014
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
Announcement

RAND to Evaluate New STEM Initiative in Appalachia Region

RAND will provide research and analysis for a multiyear, multimillion-dollar investment by Chevron in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) K-12 education and energy-sector workforce development training in the Appalachia region.

Oct 21, 2014
Commentary

The Upside of Lower Oil Prices

Movement toward sharply lower oil prices should be a prominent component of any strategy directed at disabling many of the world's most disruptive threats: Iran's nuclear development, ISIS, Hamas attacks on Israel, and Russia's threat to Ukraine.

Oct 17, 2014
Dissertation

The Political Sustainability of Carbon Control Policies in an Evolutionary Economics Setting

Analyzes the long term coevolution of market structures, technological change and government institutions.

Sep 29, 2014
Commentary

One Day in the Life of Russia

Russia faces major challenges, some self-inflicted. Freedoms vital to the creation of a modern civil society are declining. Dominant, state-controlled energy and aerospace companies are losing ground, weakening a strained economy.

Sep 23, 2014
Journal Article

Estimating Use Costs of Heavy Truck Traffic in Pennsylvania's Shale Natural Gas Boom

Development of natural gas resources has progressed rapidly in Pennsylvania. These activities require many heavy truck trips for equipment and materials, which can damage state and local roads not designed for high volumes of heavy truck traffic.

Sep 1, 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
Announcement

Cazier Gift to Pardee RAND Graduate School Launches Environmental and Energy Sustainability Initiative

A $5 million gift from engineer and philanthropist John M. Cazier will turbocharge research in environmental and energy sustainability at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Jun 20, 2014
Commentary

Why the Dangerous New Turn for Piracy Matters

Off the western coast of Africa, just north of the equator, the Gulf of Guinea has endured piracy for decades. But recent spikes in new, more dangerous forms of piracy imply a troubling sense of invincibility in the minds of the perpetrators.

Apr 29, 2014
Report

Soldier-Portable Battery Supply: Foreign Dependence and Policy Options

This report describes government and industry concerns associated with the foreign-dependent supply chain for batteries used by soldiers. It discusses alternative policy options to address these concerns.

Mar 21, 2014
Commentary

As U.S. Energy Booms, Don't Forget About Roadway Infrastructure

Natural gas production is growing and many states and communities are reaping the economic benefits. One of the costs, however, will be damage to roads. One hydraulic fracturing operation requires about 600 to 1,100 one-way, heavy truck trips to bring equipment, materials, and sometimes water to and from a well site.

Mar 11, 2014
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.

Feb 28, 2014
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.

Jan 29, 2014

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