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
Modeling how carbon capture and storage technologies will affect emissions and the economy
Clean Energy Regulations
Analyzing policy solutions for states to achieve compliance
Electricity Markets
Exploring how these markets respond to uncertainties
Electrification
Exploring emissions reductions through electrification of the US economy
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
Evaluating the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of clean energy policies
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
- Editorial
- News
Report — Feb 28, 2025
Better Incentives for Efficient Transmission: The Potential Contribution of Price Cap Regulation
This paper analyzes the regulatory barriers to adopting grid-enhancing technologies as an alternative to building more transmission lines.
On the Issues — Feb 21, 2025
On the Issues: High Social Cost of Carbon Endures, Electricity Market Reforms, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: high social cost of carbon endures, electricity market reforms, and more.
Resources Radio — Feb 18, 2025
100 Conversations on Carbon Removal, with Holly Buck
Holly Buck discusses awareness in communities across the United States about approaches to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and what policymakers can do to foster support for decarbonization at the local level.
Working Paper — Feb 18, 2025
Different Prices for Different Slices: A Meta-Analysis of Time-Based Electricity Rates
This paper quantifies the timing of high electricity rates and prices as well as solar panel ownership through a comprehensive review of the existing literature.
Report — Feb 28, 2025
Better Incentives for Efficient Transmission: The Potential Contribution of Price Cap Regulation
This paper analyzes the regulatory barriers to adopting grid-enhancing technologies as an alternative to building more transmission lines.
Working Paper — Feb 18, 2025
Different Prices for Different Slices: A Meta-Analysis of Time-Based Electricity Rates
This paper quantifies the timing of high electricity rates and prices as well as solar panel ownership through a comprehensive review of the existing literature.
Report — Feb 7, 2025
Converting Forests to Solar Facilities: Causes, Potential, and Implications
This report provides a rapid assessment of potential conversions of forests to solar facilities.
Report — Jan 13, 2025
Analyzing Affordability: Supporting Households under New York’s Cap-Trade-and-Invest Policy
This report, produced in partnership with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, investigates how different allowance-funded investment and dividend strategies can affect transportation and residential energy costs faced by New York households.
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.
Environmental Justice Series — May 23, 2024
Exploring Detroit’s Innovative Model for Tackling Energy Insecurity
A webinar exploring how Detroit has taken on energy insecurity issues through creative approaches and cross-cutting partnerships.
RFF Live — May 23, 2024
Transforming Transmission: Unpacking Order 1920, FERC’s New Regional Transmission Planning Rule
A webinar featuring a panel of experts examining the Federal Energy Regulation Commission's May 13 Grid Expansion Rule.
On the Issues — Feb 21, 2025
On the Issues: High Social Cost of Carbon Endures, Electricity Market Reforms, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: high social cost of carbon endures, electricity market reforms, and more.
Resources Radio — Feb 18, 2025
100 Conversations on Carbon Removal, with Holly Buck
Holly Buck discusses awareness in communities across the United States about approaches to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and what policymakers can do to foster support for decarbonization at the local level.
Resources Radio — Feb 11, 2025
Paying the Price for Inattention: Electricity Costs in Retail Choice Markets, with Jenya Kahn-Lang
Jenya Kahn-Lang discusses how electricity prices vary when consumers can choose their providers, how and why low-income communities and communities of color often pay more for electricity than others, and reforms that could help protect consumers.
Resources Radio — Jan 21, 2025
Energy Poverty and Utility Disconnections in the United States, with Sanya Carley
Sanya Carley discusses rates of utility disconnections (when electric and gas utilities cut their services to households) and the potentially risky strategies that low-income households employ to avoid shutoffs.
Media Highlight — Jan 27, 2025
San Francisco Chronicle: “This Ultra-Wealthy California Town Is an Anomaly for Just How Much Energy Its Residents Consume”
RFF Fellow Jesse Buchsbaum comments on electricity use in a town in Silicon Valley.
Media Highlight — Jan 16, 2025
InsideEPA: “New Analysis Sees ‘Backstop’ Role for Biden EPA Power Plant GHG Rule”
A new peer-reviewed study coauthored by several RFF scholars is the subject of this piece.
Media Highlight — Jan 13, 2025
The New York Times: “Are Smart Thermostats Worth the Money?”
In this story, RFF Senior Fellow Karen Palmer and University Fellow Casey Wichman cite their recent research about the environmental benefits of smart thermostats.
Press Release — Jan 9, 2025
EPA Power Plant Rules Could Reduce Emissions, Speed Up Coal Plant Retirements
A new article in the journal Science finds that the US Environmental Protection Agency’s May 2024 rules limiting emissions from power plants could reduce US power-sector carbon emissions by 73 to 86 percent below 2005 levels by 2040.
