Oil and Gas
Exploring the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the oil and gas sector, including research on how shale development affects communities, public finances, greenhouse gas emissions, and more. RFF also hosts the Shale Research Clearinghouse (SHARC), an interactive tool that provides access to the latest research on the positive and negative impacts of oil and gas development, as well as critical reviews of this literature.
Global Energy Outlook
Explore the definitive comparative analysis of global energy projections.
Open the Data Tool
The Community Impacts of Oil and Gas Development
Read RFF's research on the local impacts of oil and gas.
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Shale Research Clearinghouse
Explore research on the economic, health, and environmental impacts of oil and gas development.
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Common Resources — Jan 11, 2021
The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Evaluating Low-Carbon “Blue” Hydrogen Against End-Use CCUS
RFF’s Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick assess when and how blue hydrogen—which is produced by capturing CO₂ from the process of creating hydrogen—could be deployed as a cost-effective climate solution.
Common Resources — Dec 29, 2020
Hindsight 20/20: RFF’s Top 11 Stories from 2020
Resources for the Future shares our top 11 articles and podcast episodes from 2020.
Resources Articles — Dec 21, 2020
Policy Options for Oil and Gas Leasing Reform on Federal Lands and Waters
The Biden administration has highlighted some possibilities for reforming oil and gas drilling—and thus reducing emissions—on federal lands. RFF Fellow Brian Prest draws from recent modeling results to consider carbon adders as a promising option.
Report — Nov 19, 2020
Green Public Procurement for Natural Gas, Cement, and Steel
Green public procurement programs tend not to include basic materials like steel, iron, natural gas, and cement. This report describes what programs geared towards basic materials may look like, and how public programs at both the state and federal levels can be successfully implemented.
Working Paper — Sep 16, 2020
Supply-Side Reforms to Oil and Gas Production on Federal Lands: Modeling the Implications for Climate Emissions, Revenues, and Production Shifts
An examination of three proposed policies to reform the federal oil and gas leasing program: increased royalty rates, carbon adders, and a ban on new leases on federal lands.
Report — Jul 20, 2020
Green Stimulus for Oil and Gas Workers: Considering a Major Federal Effort to Plug Orphaned and Abandoned Wells
This paper, a joint effort between Resources for the Future and the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, examines the potential to boost US employment in the oil and gas workforce while also reducing pollution through a federal program to plug orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.
RFF Live — Dec 1, 2020
Going Greener: Green Public Procurement for Natural Gas, Cement, and Steel
Exploring how green procurement programs can be designed to encourage industry participation and lower carbon footprints
Policy Leadership Series — Oct 2, 2020
Policy Leadership Series with Global Energy Expert Daniel Yergin
A conversation with leading energy expert and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Daniel Yergin on energy, climate, and economic issues
RFF Live — May 20, 2020
The Global Energy Outlook: What Has Changed Due to COVID-19?
A discussion on the implications of the coronavirus pandemic for the global energy system.
Media Highlight — Dec 17, 2020
Boiling Point: Obama Wouldn't Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground. But Biden Says He Will
The LA Times' Boiling Point newsletter featured Fellow Brian Prest's work on oil and gas reform on federal lands.
Media Highlight — Dec 2, 2020
Oil and Gas Vets Want to Clean Up the Industry's Mess, One Well at a Time
A cover story for Grist, which profiles retired oil and gas employees working to plug abandoned wells, featured commentary by RFF Fellow Daniel Raimi.
Press Release — Sep 16, 2020
Finding the “Sweet Spot” for Federal Oil & Gas Leasing Reform
Internalizing the social cost of carbon in federal oil and gas leases would reduce carbon emissions and raise federal revenue.
Common Resources — Jan 11, 2021
The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Evaluating Low-Carbon “Blue” Hydrogen Against End-Use CCUS
RFF’s Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick assess when and how blue hydrogen—which is produced by capturing CO₂ from the process of creating hydrogen—could be deployed as a cost-effective climate solution.
Common Resources — Dec 29, 2020
Hindsight 20/20: RFF’s Top 11 Stories from 2020
Resources for the Future shares our top 11 articles and podcast episodes from 2020.
Resources Articles — Dec 21, 2020
Policy Options for Oil and Gas Leasing Reform on Federal Lands and Waters
The Biden administration has highlighted some possibilities for reforming oil and gas drilling—and thus reducing emissions—on federal lands. RFF Fellow Brian Prest draws from recent modeling results to consider carbon adders as a promising option.