Resources for the Future

The EPA recently announced its plans to repeal the “endangerment finding,” which asserts that greenhouse gases harm human health and the environment. In this In Focus video, RFF President & CEO Billy Pizer breaks down the implications of this major move. ⬇️

Financing the Energy Transition amid Unpredictable Climate Policy, with Heather Zichal Heather Zichal discusses her career in climate policy and explains how financial institutions can support decarbonization and the energy transition in an unpredictable policy environment.

A successful energy transition will require buy-in from diverse stakeholders, including financial institutions.🏦

On Resources Radio, Heather Zichal discusses how financial institutions can support decarbonization in an unpredictable policy environment.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Federal climate action is slowing, but states are using emissions trading systems to cut emissions and raise state revenue. RFF Research Associate Nicholas Roy explains how in this new In Focus video 👇

How are federal decisions reshaping America’s public lands? ⛰️

On July 30, join RFF for a webinar deep dive into funding, leasing, timber policy, and more—featuring insights from RFF’s If/Then series.

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

#PublicLands #LandPolicy #EnergyPolicy

Energy Affordability Is Personal, with Diana Hernández Diana Hernández discusses energy insecurity in the United States, highlighting the struggles that everyday Americans face to meet their energy needs, along with possible policy solutions.

For millions of Americans facing energy insecurity, keeping the lights on is a constant struggle.💡

On Resources Radio, @drdianahernandez.bsky.social of @columbiauenergy.bsky.social discusses how energy insecurity forces many Americans to choose between essential expenses. 🎧

Will Increased Timber Harvesting on Federal Lands Reduce Growing Wildfire Hazards? Will Increased Timber Harvesting on Federal Lands Reduce Growing Wildfire Hazards?

In March, President Trump issued an executive order to boost timber harvests by 25%, aiming to cut wildfire risk. 🔥 🌲

Our new report looks at harvest history, forest conditions on public lands, and whether the order will meet this goal.

Learn more: www.rff.org/publications...

Long-distance transmission is key to a reliable, clean grid—but major barriers remain. ⚡🔋

Join RFF tomorrow for a webinar on the future of long-distance transmission and a discussion on policy and permitting hurdles.

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

Powerlines are a vital part of the clean energy transition. ⚡

Join Molly Robertson and a panel of experts THIS THURSDAY for a webinar on why we need more powerlines, why we aren’t building them fast enough, and ways we can speed up the process.

RSVP 👉 www.rff.org/events/webin...

Carbon Pricing Is Dead. Long Live Carbon Pricing!, with Danny Richter Danny Richter discusses the evolving landscape of carbon pricing policy, outlining how programs have achieved lasting environmental and economic success by adapting to unique political priorities.

Is carbon pricing dead? Not quite. 🌎 ⚖️

Carbon pricing advocates are meeting the political moment to deliver emissions reductions. On Resources Radio, Danny Richter explains how carbon pricing policy has achieved lasting environmental and economic success.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Large Loads: Who Bears the Costs of Meeting a Growing Demand for Electricity, with Ben Hertz-Shargel Ben Hertz-Shargel, head of a research team at Wood Mackenzie that investigates how energy consumers access the grid, discusses how artificial intelligence will reshape electricity markets, the clean e...

Artificial Intelligence is transforming more than tech—it's reshaping electricity markets.

Ben Hertz-Shargel of @woodmac.com explains how rising energy demands from AI could affect energy prices, infrastructure, and clean energy growth on Resources Radio.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Kristen McCormack Joins RFF As a Research Fellow Resources for the Future is pleased to welcome back to its Washington, DC office economist Kristen McCormack, who joins the staff as a research fellow.

Join us in welcoming Kristen McCormack to Team RFF! 🎉🎉

As a research fellow, Kristen will focus on a range of environmental and energy topics, including policy design and the distributional effects of climate change.

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

Recreation-Dependent Communities, Public Lands, and Housing Affordability, with Megan Lawson Megan Lawson, an economist and researcher at Headwaters Economics, discusses the outdoor recreation economy and how public policy can support recreation-dependent communities in the face of challenges...

Outdoor recreation supports the economies of many communities in scenic natural areas in the US, but these communities also face unique challenges. 🛶🌲

Megan Lawson tackles overtourism, affordable housing shortages, and climate risks on Resources Radio.

🎧: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

#ArtificialIntelligence is expected to have a large impact on the US’ #energy future, given the electricity demand it creates. 🤖⚡️

In this In Focus video, RFF's Kristin Hayes discusses the #climate implications of #AI’s expanding role. 🎞️⬇️

Energy insecurity affects millions of Americans—a byproduct of systemic inequity. ⚡️🏠

Join RFF and @columbiauenergy.bsky.social
on July 7 for an event with Diana Hernández and Jason Bordoff on how this crisis can be mitigated.

RSVP here: bit.ly/45M2Gdi

#BookTalk #EnergyEquity

A New (and Controversial) Approach to Climate Policy, with Varun Sivaram Varun Sivaram, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and founder and CEO of Emerald AI, explains his key arguments for the doctrine of climate realism and vision for US climate policy.

@vsiv.bsky.social of @cfr.org argues that US climate policy should be grounded in realism.

On Resources Radio, he lays out a controversial new approach— “climate realism”—that aims to prepare for the dangers of #ClimateChange and advance US foreign policy goals.

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

Who Benefits from Rooftop Solar—and How Much?, with Madeline Yozwiak In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Madeline Yozwiak, a PhD candidate at Indiana University Bloomington, about the potential of residential rooftop solar technology to address the gro

One in four US households face energy insecurity. Research by Madeline Yozwiak, done in partnership with @berkeleylabemp.bsky.social suggests that rooftop solar panels could improve energy affordability. Yozwiak discusses the findings on Resources Radio.
Listen now: on.soundcloud.com/4sGg1V2TZmAY...

A Comparative Analysis of Timber Harvesting, Timber Supply, and Tree Planting Across Ownerships and Regions of the United States A Comparative Analysis of Timber Harvesting, Timber Supply, and Tree Planting Across Ownerships and Regions of the United States

US forests are critical as carbon sinks and sources of wood products. But where in the Lower 48 are forests being harvested, and where are we seeing reforestation?

This new article is the first detailed assessment of this question. 🌲🔍

Learn more: www.rff.org/publications...

The Energy Transition for Oil- and Gas-Producing Tribal Nations: Assessing Options for Energy Development with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe The Energy Transition for Oil- and Gas-Producing Tribal Nations: Assessing Options for Energy Development with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe

And read our paper to learn more about the potential benefits of utility-scale solar for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe: www.rff.org/publications...

YouTube video by Resources for the Future In Focus—Daniel Raimi on Native Nations and the Energy Transition

New RFF research shows that utility-scale solar can give economic opportunities to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, which produces oil & gas. ☀️

@danielraimi.bsky.social explains the relationship between Native nations, energy sovereignty & the transition toward clean energy sources. ⬇️

Big news!! 🎉📢

RFF University Fellow Åsa Löfgren was named a 2025 ‪@eaere.bsky.social‬ Fellow! This honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of environmental and resource economics.

Congratulations Åsa! 💙

www.eaere.org/fellows/

What does has energy and environmental policy looked like under the second Trump administration? 🌎⚡

Join Resources for the Future (RFF) on June 24 to dive into early insights from If/Then—with analysis on emissions, natural disasters, and more.

⬇️ Register here:

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

YouTube video by Resources for the Future In Focus—Margaret Walls on Wildfire Risks and Jobs

In the western US, jobs and nonresidential development are increasing in areas facing the highest wildfire risk. 🔥

Margaret Walls breaks down this trend and what it means for climate and disaster resilience in a new In Focus video. ▶️

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.

In the US there are significant delays in building new power infrastructure, like generators. ⚡

On Resources Radio, RFF Senior Research Associate McKenna Peplinski discusses the economic and social consequences of these delays.

Tune in: www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Reducing Climate Risks through Housing Policy, with Jenny Schuetz Jenny Schuetz discusses the increasing exposure of US households to climate disasters and the policy solutions that can help protect communities that are vulnerable to such disasters.

Many Americans are moving to areas vulnerable to climate disasters, often without knowing local risks.

On Resources Radio, @jennyschuetz.bsky.social (@arnoldventures.bsky.social) discusses how housing policy can balance affordability and climate resilience.

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

The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that rapidly phases out federal subsidies for clean electricity generation. ⚡📉

RFF’s McKenna Peplinski discusses the effects of losing these subsidies on electricity bills, emissions, and the energy sector in a new In Focus Video. 👇

Figuring out the cost of charging can be confusing for #EV owners. 🔋🔌

Our new Resources magazine article explores the problem, finding ways that policymakers can avoid “pain at the pump” and ensure that EVs are a good financial choice for car buyers.

Learn more! 👇
www.resources.org/archives/pai...

New in @natclimate.nature.com:

Policymakers feel the heat when they propose banning fossil fuel-based heating systems. How can the switch to low-emissions tech be more politically palatable? 🏠🌡️

A new paper coauthored by RFF’s Karen Palmer explores some options. 👇

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Can states take the driver’s seat on decarbonizing #transportation? 🚗 ⚡️

In our new issue of Resources magazine, learn more about how states may have to step up as federal transportation policy changes under the Trump administration.

www.resources.org/archives/can...

RFF Awards Grants to Fund Research on Major Federal Energy Laws Resources for the Future is pleased to award seven teams grants to analyze clean energy policies and programs developed under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Ac...

Big news! 💡 RFF has awarded grants to seven teams to research #cleanenergy policies and programs developed under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.

Click below to learn more about the teams & their projects. 👇

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

Valuing Access to Drinking Water in India, with Fiona Burlig Fiona Burlig relays the results of her experiments that sought the most effective methods of delivering clean drinking water to communities in India.

Can private water delivery expand clean water access? 💧🚰

@burlig.bsky.social joined this week’s episode of Resources Radio to discuss a new study that investigates the demand for and health outcomes of private water delivery in India.

Tune in: www.resources.org/resources-ra...