Industry and Fuels
RFF’s researchers are exploring technological and policy solutions that can decarbonize the industrial sector, including regulations, performance standards, policies for public procurement, market-creation approaches, and policies to fund innovation—alongside the equity, financing, and economic considerations that accompany decarbonization.
Highlights
Topics
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture and sequestration/storage technologies have significant potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in energy systems. RFF’s researchers are studying how these technologies fit into the climate policy landscape.
Fossil Fuels
Analysis at RFF focuses on the development and distribution of fossil fuel resources—including natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal, and oil—in the United States and abroad, as well as its impacts and their mitigation through regulations.
Hydrogen
RFF researchers explore the role that hydrogen might play in reducing carbon emissions. By evaluating the production, storage, and transportation costs associated with hydrogen, scholars consider new technology options and policy mechanisms for using the
Innovation Policy
Innovation policies can help stimulate work on promising, but unproven, technologies.
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
- Editorial
- News
Journal Article — Jun 23, 2025
Interplanetary Risk Regulation
This article explores how concepts from risk regulation can help address emerging dangers across multiple planets and space environments, pointing toward the development of future interplanetary laws and policies.
Press Release — Jun 17, 2025
New Study Finds Opportunity for Tribally Owned, Utility-Scale Solar Development on Southern Ute Reservation
New research carried out in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe finds that utility-scale solar development may offer new economic opportunities for the Tribe and its members.
Working Paper — Jun 17, 2025
The Energy Transition for Oil- and Gas-Producing Tribal Nations: Assessing Options for Energy Development with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
This working paper presents the results of a multiyear collaboration with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe—a major natural gas–producing Tribal Nation that relies heavily on fossil fuel extraction and related infrastructure—to support a just economic and ene
Media Highlight — Jun 5, 2025
Financial Times: “Trump’s Tax Bill Poses Existential Threat to US Green Hydrogen Industry”
Fellow Aaron Bergman is quoted in the Financial Times’ Energy Source newsletter.
Journal Article — Jun 23, 2025
Interplanetary Risk Regulation
This article explores how concepts from risk regulation can help address emerging dangers across multiple planets and space environments, pointing toward the development of future interplanetary laws and policies.
Working Paper — Jun 17, 2025
The Energy Transition for Oil- and Gas-Producing Tribal Nations: Assessing Options for Energy Development with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
This working paper presents the results of a multiyear collaboration with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe—a major natural gas–producing Tribal Nation that relies heavily on fossil fuel extraction and related infrastructure—to support a just economic and ene
Report — May 13, 2025
Constraining the Choice Set: Oklahoma’s Limited Approach to Building Economic Resilience
The report presents insights on Oklahoma’s economic resilience strategies, relevant policies, and proposed program enhancements based on a set of interviews with key stakeholders.
Report — Apr 7, 2025
Global Energy Outlook 2025: Headwinds and Tailwinds in the Energy Transition
RFF’s annual Global Energy Outlook harmonizes a range of long-term energy projections to find key trends in global energy consumption, emissions, and geopolitics.
Webinar — Apr 9, 2025
Global Energy Outlook 2025: Headwinds and Tailwinds in the Energy Transition
An in-depth, virtual panel discussion on some of the potential long-term outlooks for energy markets and the global energy system.
Webinar — Mar 5, 2025
Finding the Right Fit: What Jobs Offer a Good Match for Fossil Fuel Workers' Skills?
A webinar exploring best job matches in terms of skills for fossil fuel workers.
Webinar — Feb 25, 2025
Lessons in Mining Sustainability in Latin America
A webinar exploring advances in sustainability around mining and community engagement in Latin America.
Webinar — Oct 16, 2024
Analyzing Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation
A webinar featuring industry experts discussing models and analysis, alternative policies, energy pricing, and areas of greatest potential industrial emissions mitigation.
Resources Radio — Jun 3, 2025
What’s the Role of Coal in India?, with Sandeep Pai
Sandeep Pai discusses coal in the context of India’s electrification and development, how the country plans to decarbonize while shifting toward urbanization, and observations on the clean energy transition around the world.
Common Resources — May 9, 2025
If/Then: New Cuts to Oil and Gas Royalty Rates in Budget Reconciliation Will Reduce Federal Revenues
Companies may soon pay lower rates to drill oil and gas on publicly owned lands, due to a new legislative proposal, which would cut $6 billion in federal revenues over the next decade and tens of billions thereafter, with similar losses for states.
Common Resources — May 8, 2025
Do the Advantages of Geothermal Energy Justify Greater Federal Support?
More federal support could help geothermal energy become commercially viable and add a substantial amount of clean, reliable electricity to the grid.
Common Resources — Apr 10, 2025
If/Then: Decreasing US Energy Prices Won’t Unleash Energy Dominance
Global markets—not domestic policies—drive decisions that US companies make about energy production, in contrast to recent statements made by the presidential administration.
Press Release — Jun 17, 2025
New Study Finds Opportunity for Tribally Owned, Utility-Scale Solar Development on Southern Ute Reservation
New research carried out in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe finds that utility-scale solar development may offer new economic opportunities for the Tribe and its members.
Media Highlight — Jun 5, 2025
Financial Times: “Trump’s Tax Bill Poses Existential Threat to US Green Hydrogen Industry”
Fellow Aaron Bergman is quoted in the Financial Times’ Energy Source newsletter.
Media Highlight — May 26, 2025
Writers on the Range: “Energy Dominance Harms Our Public Lands”
A widely syndicated op-ed read by people across the American West mentions RFF research on the effects of lower royalty rates for oil and gas produced on federal lands.
Media Highlight — Apr 14, 2025
Canary Media: “Why Coal Won’t Solve the Looming Grid-Reliability Crisis”
RFF Senior Fellow Karen Palmer shares her thoughts on the reasons that coal plants retire.
