Electric Power
Limiting global climate change will require widespread decarbonization of the power sector and electrification of the economy. RFF's research and policy engagement holistically evaluates market designs and federal, state, and local policies to facilitate a smooth transition to a decarbonized power sector that serves a broad range of sectors and energy needs.
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.
Clean Energy Regulations
Clean energy regulations help promote the development of renewable electricity sources, broadening the scope of low-carbon options. These regulations play a key role in the energy transition and in reducing emissions from the electricity grid. RFF’s resea
Electricity Markets
Today’s electricity markets must balance growing consumer demand with regulatory or market-based policy requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research at RFF helps policymakers understand how domestic and international markets for electricity r
Electrification
Electrification refers to the process of replacing technologies that run on fossil fuels with ones that use electricity instead. Researchers at RFF are studying how this transition could help reduce carbon dioxide pollution, depending on how the electrici
Energy Efficiency and Demand-Side Management
Examining policies to help close the existing energy efficiency gap
Engineering, Economic, and Environmental Electricity Simulation Tool (E4ST)
E4ST is power sector modeling software built to project the effects of policies, regulations, power infrastructure additions, demand changes, and more.
Haiku Electricity Model
Haiku is a simulation model of regional electricity markets and interregional electricity trade in the continental United States.
Renewable Energy
Technological innovations are gradually lowering the costs associated with solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass-derived energies. RFF’s researchers are evaluating the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of clean energy generation, regulation, an
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
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Resources Radio — Jun 10, 2025
Power Delayed: The Hidden Costs of Postponing Power Projects, with McKenna Peplinski
Resources for the Future Senior Research Associate McKenna Peplinski discusses the economic and social consequences of delays in building up the power infrastructure in the United States.
Media Highlight — Jun 4, 2025
New York Times: “Electricity Prices Are Surging. The GOP Megabill Could Push Them Higher.”
RFF analysis on the effects of repealing the Inflation Reduction Act’s tech-neutral clean energy tax credits is cited in this piece.
Media Highlight — May 29, 2025
EnergySage: “The Real Reason Electric Rates Are Rising”
RFF Fellow Jesse Buchsbaum explores the issue of high electricity prices in this video explainer.
Media Highlight — May 16, 2025
E&E News: “Electricity Costs Keep Climbing, Despite Trump’s Promises”
A story about rising electricity costs mentions RFF research about the impacts of repealing federal tech-neutral tax credits.
Working Paper — May 12, 2025
Clean Power Delayed: Effects of Infrastructure Delays on Health, Environment, and US Households
This paper assesses how preventing power delays can reduce pollution and prevent premature deaths, providing major health benefits for low-income, Black, and Hispanic households.
Working Paper — May 12, 2025
Power Delayed: Economic Effects of Electricity Transmission and Generation Development Delays
This report considers the economic benefits of mitigating delays in transmission and generation infrastructure, estimating potential annual savings for energy consumers and significant improvements in grid reliability.
Report — Apr 18, 2025
Charging Up: The State of Utility-Scale Electricity Storage in the United States
This report explores how economic forces, public policy, and market design have shaped the development of stand-alone grid-scale storage in the United States.
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.
RFF Live — Jun 3, 2025
RFF x Canary Media: Conversations on Electricity Affordability
RFF x Canary Media: Conversations on Electricity Affordability
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.
RFF Live — Jan 29, 2025
Big Decisions 2025
On Wednesday, January 29th, RFF and leaders across government, business, philanthropy & media gathered to discuss the big decisions anticipated in 2025.
Environmental Justice Series — Jun 26, 2024
Improving Electricity Affordability in the Clean Energy Transition
A webinar featuring an expert panel discussing strategies to address issues of electricity affordability in the United States.
Resources Radio — Jun 10, 2025
Power Delayed: The Hidden Costs of Postponing Power Projects, with McKenna Peplinski
Resources for the Future Senior Research Associate McKenna Peplinski discusses the economic and social consequences of delays in building up the power infrastructure in the United 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.
On the Issues — Apr 11, 2025
On the Issues: US Energy “Dominance,” Data Center–Driven Electricity Demand, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: US energy “dominance,” data center–driven electricity demand, and more.
In Focus — Apr 3, 2025
In Focus: Why Electricity Costs Are Increasing
In this video, RFF Fellow Jesse Buchsbaum shares insights about the increasing costs of electricity and policy options for mitigating those costs, particularly for low-income communities.
Media Highlight — Jun 4, 2025
New York Times: “Electricity Prices Are Surging. The GOP Megabill Could Push Them Higher.”
RFF analysis on the effects of repealing the Inflation Reduction Act’s tech-neutral clean energy tax credits is cited in this piece.
Media Highlight — May 29, 2025
EnergySage: “The Real Reason Electric Rates Are Rising”
RFF Fellow Jesse Buchsbaum explores the issue of high electricity prices in this video explainer.
Media Highlight — May 16, 2025
E&E News: “Electricity Costs Keep Climbing, Despite Trump’s Promises”
A story about rising electricity costs mentions RFF research about the impacts of repealing federal tech-neutral tax credits.
Press Release — May 12, 2025
Delaying Grid Buildout Could Cost Americans Billions, Endanger Health
Two reports estimate that preventing delays in new transmission and generation infrastructure could save energy customers tens of billions of dollars per year, considerably increase grid reliability, and prevent premature deaths by reducing air pollution.
