Future of Power
Substantial reduction of US greenhouse gas emissions will require widespread decarbonization of the power sector and the economy. Experts at RFF are undertaking research and policy engagement activities that holistically evaluate market designs and local, state, and federal policies to facilitate a smooth transition to a decarbonized power sector.
RFF's Future of Power Initiative
Experts at RFF are working to holistically evaluate market designs and state and federal policies to facilitate a smooth transition to a decarbonized power sector.
Read About the Initiative
Reducing Risk in Wind and Solar
Read about how financial hedges can reduce investment risk.
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Clean Energy Standards
Read our issue brief on options available to federal and state policymakers.
Read moreTopics
Carbon Capture and Storage
Modeling how carbon capture and storage technologies will affect emissions and the economy
Clean Power Plan
Analyzing policy solutions for states to achieve compliance
Coal
Analyzing the role of coal in the global and domestic energy sectors
Electricity Markets and Regulation
Exploring how these markets respond to uncertainties
Electrification
Exploring emissions reductions through electrification of the US economy
Energy Efficiency
Examining policies to help close the existing energy efficiency gap
Nuclear Energy
Examining the implications of advancing nuclear power technologies for the economy and environment
Renewable Energy
Evaluating the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of clean energy policies
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
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- Resources Magazine
Report — Jan 26, 2021
Coal Communities in Transition: A Case Study of Colstrip, Montana
This case study, part of RFF and EDF's Fairness for Workers in Transition series, analyzes the energy uncertainty in Colstrip, an isolated, resource-dependent community in southeastern Montana.
Common Resources — Jan 20, 2021
The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Evaluating Zero-Carbon “Green” Hydrogen Against Renewable and Nuclear Power
RFF’s Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick assess when and how green hydrogen—which is produced from water electrolysis using renewable or nuclear power—could be a valuable use of zero-carbon electricity.
Resources Radio — Jan 19, 2021
Defining, Measuring, and Addressing Energy Poverty, with Tony Reames
Tony Reames describes how existing public policies don’t do enough to help households that pay a disproportionate share of income on energy costs.
Working Paper — Jul 5, 2018
Retirements and Funerals: The Emission, Mortality, and Coal-Mine Employment Effects of a Two-Year Delay in Coal and Nuclear Power Plant Retirements
A leaked US government memo proposes preventing the scheduled retirement of coal and nuclear power plants for two years. Using a detailed simulation model, we estimate the effects of such a policy on emissions, mortality, and coal-mine jobs.
Working Paper — Nov 29, 2018
The Welfare Costs of Misaligned Incentives: Energy Inefficiency and the Principal-Agent Problem
I measure the welfare costs of the principal-agent problem in the context of an energy efficiency appliance upgrade program. I find that the principal-agent problem turns an otherwise welfare-increasing program into a welfare-reducing program.
Issue Brief — Jan 24, 2019
Clean Energy Standards
Exploring the options available for policymakers to implement a CES at the state or federal level.
Workshop/Seminar — Dec 16, 2020
Market Design for the Clean Energy Transition: Advancing Long-Term Approaches
A two-day virtual workshop aimed at advancing proposals for organized long-term electricity market designs
Advanced Energy Technologies Series — Nov 13, 2020
The Future of Direct Air Capture
A discussion on the deployment potential of direct air capture technologies for climate change mitigation
Advanced Energy Technologies Series — Oct 29, 2020
The Future of Energy Storage
A discussion on the future of short-duration and long-duration storage technologies
Press Release — Dec 21, 2020
Viable Short-Term Paths to Producing and Using Low-Carbon Hydrogen Exist; Tax Credits May Hasten Its Spread throughout the Economy
Tax credits could make hydrogen energy more competitive in the US industrial and power sectors, but reductions in production and storage costs and expansion of transportation infrastructure are necessary to achieve zero-carbon hydrogen use.
Press Release — Dec 14, 2020
Advanced Energy Tech Could Drive $47B in Annual Power Sector Benefits by 2050
New analysis of advanced energy technologies finds that cost reductions could lead to billions of dollars per year in benefits in the United States, with most of those benefits seen in lower consumer electricity bills.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2020
Biden EPA Likely to Confront Tough Clean Air Act Choices for US Power Sector
A story in S&P Global about the future of EPA under the Biden Administration pulls on the expertise of university fellow and environmental law expert, Nathan Richardson.
Common Resources — Jan 20, 2021
The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Evaluating Zero-Carbon “Green” Hydrogen Against Renewable and Nuclear Power
RFF’s Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick assess when and how green hydrogen—which is produced from water electrolysis using renewable or nuclear power—could be a valuable use of zero-carbon electricity.
Resources Radio — Jan 19, 2021
Defining, Measuring, and Addressing Energy Poverty, with Tony Reames
Tony Reames describes how existing public policies don’t do enough to help households that pay a disproportionate share of income on energy costs.
Common Resources — Jan 13, 2021
Should Utilities Manage How Your Appliances Use Energy?
Although involving utilities in customer-side electricity management could reduce competition in the market for managing customer energy use, RFF scholar Tim Brennan notes that the idea may prompt positive outcomes as well.