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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.

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
Report
Case Studies Explore Future Technology Landscapes
Case studies explore a growing volume of primarily civil technology that can both potentially impact and be exploited as UK defense and security capabilities.
Dec 5, 2013
Blog
What Mobility Might Look Like in the U.S. in 2030
Mobility — the ability to travel from one location to another — may look very different in the United States in the year 2030. Three key drivers differentiate possible scenarios: the price of oil, the development of environmental regulations, and the amount of highway revenues and expenditures.
Oct 28, 2013
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.
Oct 25, 2013
Report
Scenarios Examine Future of Mobility in the United States
What might one expect for the future of mobility in the U.S. in 2030? A six-step scenario development process resulted in two thought-provoking scenarios that address this question, and three key drivers differentiate the scenarios: the price of oil, the development of environmental regulation, and the amount of highway revenues and expenditures.
Oct 24, 2013
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
Commentary
The Strategy Behind China's Aid Expansion
Between 2001 and 2011, China's pledged foreign aid was $671 billion. In all regions and countries, China's assistance focuses on the development of natural resources, principally energy-related (coal, oil, and gas). Both parties presumably benefit from China's aid but both are also exposed to added risks and hidden costs.
Oct 9, 2013
Blog
New RAND Study Examines Chinese Economic Assistance to Other Countries
With the world's second largest economy, China has the capacity to engage in substantial programs of economic assistance and government-sponsored investments in 93 emerging-market countries.
Sep 19, 2013
Report
China's Foreign Aid and Government-Sponsored Investment Activities: Scale, Content, Destinations, and Implications
With the world's second largest economy, China has the capacity to engage in substantial programs of economic assistance and government-sponsored investments. Researchers assessed the scale, trends, and composition of these programs in 93 emerging-market countries.
Sep 18, 2013
Testimony
The Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013
The Nuclear Waste Administration Act (S. 1240) appears to strike a balance between the competing values of public accountability and insulation from political influence, write Lynn Davis and Debra Knopman.
Aug 14, 2013
Commentary
San Onofre Risk Factors
The ongoing effort to open a spent fuel repository in the U.S. demonstrates the magnitude of the technical and political challenges of such an undertaking, writes Tom LaTourrette.
Jun 20, 2013
Journal Article
Identifying Key Drivers of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Biomass Feedstocks for Energy Production
Many policies in the United States, at both the federal and state levels, encourage the adoption of renewable energy from biomass.
Jun 20, 2013
Testimony
Refinery Process Safety Performance and Models of Government-Industry Relations
U.S. safety performance at refineries has not been good by international standards. However, Cal-OSHA inspections of refineries typically find so few hazards that they contribute relatively little to refinery safety.
Jun 12, 2013
Report
Key Trends That Will Shape Army Installations of Tomorrow
Assesses how future trends external to Army installations may affect the Army's ability to provide quality installation services and infrastructure.
Jun 6, 2013

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