Brian C. Prest
Fellow; Director, Social Cost of Carbon Initiative
Brian Prest is an economist and fellow at RFF specializing in the economics of climate change, energy economics, and oil and gas supply. Prest uses economic theory and econometrics to improve the design of energy and environmental policies. His recent work includes improving the scientific basis of the social cost of carbon and economic modeling of various policies around oil and gas supply. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature, the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, and the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. His work has also been featured in popular press outlets including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Economist, Reuters, the Associated Press, and Barron’s.
Prest holds a PhD from Duke University and previously worked in both the public and private sectors. At the Congressional Budget Office, he developed economic models of various energy sectors to analyze the effects of proposed legislation, including the 2009 Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill and related Clean Electricity Standards. At NERA Economic Consulting, he conducted electricity market modeling, project valuation, and discounted cash flow analysis of various infrastructure investments in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia, with a focus on the power sector.
Education
- PhD in environmental and resource economics, Duke University, 2018
- BA in economics, Williams College, 2009
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Journal Article — Jun 25, 2025
Circular A-4: Practical Advances in Discounting for Policy Decisions
This article explores recent revisions to US federal discounting guidance and their implications for long-term policy analysis.
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 — 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.
Journal Article — Jun 25, 2025
Circular A-4: Practical Advances in Discounting for Policy Decisions
This article explores recent revisions to US federal discounting guidance and their implications for long-term policy analysis.
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
Explainer — Apr 9, 2025
Social Cost of Carbon at a Glance
Social Cost of Carbon at a Glance
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.
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.
Resources Radio — Mar 11, 2025
Economic and Environmental Effects of Natural Gas Exports, with Brian C. Prest
Brian C. Prest discusses liquefied natural gas exports from the United States, including the effects of increasing exports on domestic energy prices and methane emissions and the ability of the federal government to influence production.
Common Resources — Feb 18, 2025
When Put to the Test, Higher Social Cost of Carbon Stands Firm
A recent analysis of the social cost of carbon—the cost to society of an additional ton of carbon dioxide emissions—ultimately supports a higher estimate of this metric.
Resources Magazine Articles — Oct 7, 2024
Putting Resources for the Future on the Map
The “souvenirs” that RFF researchers bring back from their global travels—new perspectives, knowledge, stories, and photos—show a world of Resources that are out there and worth sharing.
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 — 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 29, 2025
New York Times: “How Trump May Unintentionally Cut Carbon Emissions”
RFF Fellow Brian Prest offers his thoughts on the relationship between new federal economic policies and global emissions.
Press Release — Mar 11, 2025
How Much Are Rising Oil and Gas Exports Increasing US Energy Prices and Methane Emissions?
While natural gas exports have received the bulk of the attention in recent years from climate-conscious observers and policymakers, a new paper finds that oil exports have likely been a bigger driver of methane pollution.