Resources for the Future

RFF modeling shows that the newly proposed Clean Competition Act would generate ~$101 billion in revenue over the first 10 years of the policy. 🌐🏭

Katarina Nehrkorn, who modeled the bill's impacts, discusses its potential effects on clean domestic manufacturing and emissions.⬇️

Data centers are popping up across the country, straining energy grids and driving up household electricity costs. ⚡💲

In this video, RFF Fellow Jesse Buchsbaum discusses what increases electricity cost and how these price increases disproportionately affect low-income households. ⬇️

California’s Revamped Energy and Climate Policies, with Kate Gordon Kate Gordon discusses California’s recent raft of climate policies, specifically those policies that aim to balance energy affordability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

On a new episode of Resources Radio, Kate Gordon discusses California's climate-policy package. ⚡💸

Gordon explains how these new efforts will aim to reduce energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions, while also supporting high-speed rail, carbon management, and more.

Listen now! ⬇️

Pumping Up Pollution During Government Shutdowns, with Neha Khanna and Ruohao Zhang Neha Khanna and Ruohao Zhang discuss how government shutdowns can lead to increased pollution by temporarily suspending air-pollution monitoring.

How are government shutdowns and air quality linked? 🏛️☁️

In this week’s episode of Resources Radio, Neha Khanna and Ruohao Zhang discuss their research on government shutdowns and air pollution monitoring.

Listen now! ⬇️

www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Despite the absence of a US delegation, California reps are on the ground at #COP30, touting the state’s recent climate policy advances. ☀️🍃

In a new In Focus video, RFF Senior Fellow Dallas Burtraw discusses California's recently passed package of climate legislation. ⬇️

Nature vs. Unnature: Public Perception of Solar Geoengineering, with Kaitlin Raimi Kaitlin Raimi discusses the public perception of solar geoengineering, varying opinions on the emerging technology, and what makes for effective communication about the technology.

Solar geoengineering is one of the many potential approaches to counter #ClimateChange, but what does the public think of it? ☀️

In this Resources Radio episode, Kaitlin Raimi discusses public perceptions of #SolarGeoengineering, its benefits and risks, and more.

🎧 Listen here: lnkd.in/eJdVxmvn

Upcoming Webinar: “The Future of Biofuels: Role of Policy in Biofuel Adoption” 🌱

This Friday, November 14 at 1:00 P.M. ET, join RFF for the next installment in our Future of Biofuels webinar series!

Register here to tune in: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Now reading: “Advancing Research on Financial Stability and Climate-Related Financial Risk.” 📰🔍

This @ScienceMagazine editorial by @billypizer.bsky.social and Jim Stock (@harvardsalata.bsky.social) argues we need research on the financial risks of #ClimateChange.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Understanding Uncertainty in Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, with Vivek Srikrishnan Vivek Srikrishnan discusses the uncertainty surrounding factors that contribute to climate change and subsequent sea level rise, including how these uncertainties lead to a wide range of sea level pro...

Projecting future sea level rise is a difficult task. 🌊🔬

In a new podcast episode, @vsrikrish.bsky.social discusses the complex factors that contribute to sea level rise, the impact of different greenhouse gases, and more.

Listen now! 🎧

A History of Alliances Between Workers and Environmentalists, with Dave Foster Dave Foster discusses the history of labor unions and environmental organizations coming together to work on common goals, with a notable example involving the United Steelworkers and what became an a...

When labor and environmental movements join forces, they can build a fairer, greener future. 🌱🧑‍🏭

This week on Resources Radio, Dave Foster discusses how unions and environmentalists found common ground and formed the BlueGreen Alliance.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Measuring Emissions from Liquefied Natural Gas, with Arvind Ravikumar Arvind Ravikumar discusses recent changes to federal methane emissions regulations, responses to these changes in the private sector, and ways to reduce methane emissions from natural gas production.

Where natural gas comes from and how it’s transported have a huge impact on emissions. 🚢🌤️

Learn about natural gas, what governments and companies are (and aren’t) doing to reduce emissions from the gas, and more in this podcast with @arvindpawan1.bsky.social.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

⚡ Webinar Alert! ⚡
Join RFF on Tuesday, October 21 for a webinar discussing the challenges and opportunities for a potential nuclear renaissance in the US.

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Achieving Societal Goals through Carbon Removal, with Jennifer Wilcox Jennifer Wilcox discusses how recent policies impact carbon emissions, shares ideas for how carbon removal can help reach emissions goals, and recommends ways to tackle related obstacles.

In a recent episode of Resources Radio, Jennifer Wilcox discusses recent changes to carbon removal policies. 🌱🏭

Wilcox also addresses gaps in current incentives, and considerations for amending new policies.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

A Conversation on Climate Week Climate Week NYC is a unique forum to discuss the future of climate and energy policy, make connections, and reflect on the changing centers of climate action. In this blog post, several Climate Week ...

Our Climate Week blog post is out now! 🌎

Last month, several members of RFF’s research and policy engagement team traveled to Climate Week NYC. Kristin Hayes discussed the takeaways with some RFF attendees—read more here:
www.resources.org/common-resou...

Issue 219: Policy Priorities Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow Issue 219 of Resources magazine covers RFF’s investments in our traditional and emerging streams of research that reflect both the urgency and complexity of today’s world.

🚨 Issue 219 of Resources magazine is out NOW! 🚨

It features articles on extreme weather, US climate technology competitiveness, electricity affordability, and more!

Read it today! 📖
www.resources.org/print-issues...

We are celebrating our Founders’ Day today! 🎉

Since 1952, RFF has been delivering rigorous analysis, and that would not be possible without our supporters!
Your gift will make a difference today, and for generations to come. 🌎💙

www.rff.org/impact/found...

An Unprecedented Investment in US Rare Earth Elements, with Tom Moerenhout Tom Moerenhout discusses the recent federal investment in a privately held mine in the United States—the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine—and the potential risks and rewards of the deal.

Can the US reduce its reliance on critical minerals imports? 💵🔋

On our newest podcast episode, Daniel Raimi talks to Columbia University’s Tom Moerenhout about the federal government’s investment in California’s Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Airing New Concerns with US Carbon Capture Policies, with Sheila Olmstead Sheila Olmstead discusses the complex nature of federal subsidies related to carbon capture and storage. These subsidies might reduce carbon emissions—but also can be expensive, discourage clean energ...

Does the 45Q tax credit really reduce emissions?

On the latest episode of Resources Radio, RFF’s Daniel Raimi and Sheila Olmstead discuss the lesser-known implications of this subsidy for carbon capture and storage. 🌍

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Contracts for Difference to Spur Clean and Competitive Industry: Options for Federal Policymakers The federal government can strengthen US competitiveness in critical industries by designing and implementing a contracts for difference policy to provide a way for manufacturers to de-risk their inno...

What can the US do to avoid falling behind in global markets dominated by low-carbon products? 🏭

A recent RFF blog post spells out the effectiveness of “contracts for difference” policies and explains how they work.

Read more here: www.resources.org/common-resou...

🌱 Native Nations in the Energy Transition
Join us Oct 2, 2025 | 2–5 pm ET at GW Law (DC) or online
💡Engage with Tribal energy & resource experts
💡Learn how to support Tribes
Hosted by @rff.org #SMU @uarizona.bsky.social
Thanks to @sloanfoundation.bsky.social
🔗 Register: www.rff.org/events/all-e...

Salata Institute and Resources for the Future Launch the Climate-related Financial and Macroeconomic Risk Initiative A new research collaboration will deepen understanding of how climate change affects economic stability—and forge tools to address growing risks.

BIG NEWS! 📣 RFF is teaming up with @harvardsalata.bsky.social to deepen our understanding of the climate's effect on the economy. 💸

The new initiative will unite economists, finance scholars, policymakers, & others to develop research for a resilient future. 💪🌎

www.rff.org/news/press-r...

💡 Do you have a research project in mind that will help fossil fuel–dependent communities navigate the energy transition?

The Resilient Energy Economies Initiative is awarding research grants—apply before October 31! www.resilientenergyeconomies.org/grants

Watch this short video for more info 👇

Understanding Fossil Fuel Subsidies Around the World, with Paasha Mahdavi Paasha Mahdavi discusses the purpose of fossil fuel subsidies, the importance of reducing these subsidies, and why efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies often fail.

Why have past attempts to reform fossil fuel subsidies failed, and what needs to change? ⛽

In a new episode of Resources Radio, Paasha Mahdavi breaks this topic down, and gives insight into the past and future of fossil fuel subsidies.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Join us on October 2nd from 2 PM-5 PM EST for an event featuring a 4-year project between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, SMU, RFF, and the University of Arizona, and others to advance Tribal energy sovereignty.

Register: form.jotform.com/252526367201...

The Role of Government Agencies in Wildlife Abundance, Decimation, and Recovery, with Dominic Parker Dominic Parker discusses the first government-run environmental agencies in the United States—state wildlife agencies—and their influence on the survival of US wildlife.

In our latest episode of Resources Radio, economist Dominic Parker discusses America’s first environmental regulators: state wildlife agencies. 🦌

Parker’s research reveals the tactics these agencies used to recover wildlife populations from the brink of extinction.

🎧: bit.ly/46eMSOz

Sweating Over Student Behavior in Hot Schools, with Kristen McCormack Kristen McCormack, Resources for the Future’s newest research fellow, discusses the impact of extreme temperatures on student behavior, absences, disciplinary referrals, and later-life outcomes.

Back-to-school season often means hot classrooms. ☀️📚

On Resources Radio, our newest fellow Kristen McCormack explains how extreme heat affects absences and disciplinary referrals—and how air conditioning can help protect kids.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Sweating Over Student Behavior in Hot Schools, with Kristen McCormack Kristen McCormack, Resources for the Future’s newest research fellow, discusses the impact of extreme temperatures on student behavior, absences, disciplinary referrals, and later-life outcomes.

Back-to-school season often means hot classrooms. ☀️📚

On Resources Radio, our newest fellow Kristen McCormack explains how extreme heat affects student learning, absences, and discipline—and how air conditioning can help protect kids.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Last week, lightning strikes ignited dozens of wildfires in California—an increasingly common occurrence that affects disaster insurance markets in the state. 🏠

RFF Fellow Matt Wibbenmeyer discusses CA's wildfire insurance landscape and potential practices that could help communities adapt. 👇

Resources Radio A weekly podcast that features interviews with researchers and leading experts about climate change, energy, ecosystems, and more.

After a short summer break, Resources Radio is back in action next week! 🎙️ ☀️

Tune in on Tuesday, September 2 to hear RFF Fellow Kristen McCormack explore the effects of extreme heat on student attendance and discipline.

See you soon! ⬇️
www.resources.org/resources-ra...

If/Then: Unintended Effects of Recent Federal Actions on Electricity Prices If the administration’s push to increase US dependence on fossil fuel–powered electricity generation is implemented as intended, then higher electricity rates and more uncertainty over future electric...

New policies aimed at increasing energy affordability could make prices worse. ⚡🏠

In a recent If/Then blog, RFF research finds that rolling back clean energy incentives could create more volatility in energy markets and raise costs.

Read more: www.resources.org/common-resou...