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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
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
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
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

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Billy Bryan

Evaluation and Research Lead

Billy Bryan (he/him) is an evaluation and research leader at RAND Europe. He has five years of experience in monitoring and evaluation with specific focuses on science, technology, and innovation policy, green innovation, research and innovation (R&I) and business support for COVID-19 and…
Debra Knopman

Adjunct Engineer

Debra Knopman is an adjunct engineer at the RAND Corporation. She served as vice president and director of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, later called Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment, from 2004 to 2014, and then as a principal researcher from 2014 to 2022.

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