Published since 1959 by Resources for the Future

Common Resources

A blog that offers timely analysis and commentary about pressing environmental and energy issues.

Common Resources Archive

Mountain sheep / red rocks

Getting to 30x30: Important Considerations for the Biden Administration’s Conservation Agenda

Alexandra Thompson and Margaret A. Walls

April 14, 2021

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Putting the American Jobs Plan to Work: Examining the Implications and Challenges

Marc Hafstead, Alan Krupnick, Benjamin Leard, Joshua Linn, Wesley Look, Karen Palmer, Daniel Raimi, Kevin Rennert, Susan Tierney, and Michael A. Toman

April 6, 2021

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Texas Power Crisis Exposes Problems with Financial Risk–Mitigation Strategies in Renewable Energy Projects

Jay Bartlett

March 31, 2021

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Net-Zero Ambitions: RFF’s Policy Leadership Series

Bernard Looney, Richard G. Newell, and Elizabeth Wason

March 25, 2021

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Equitable Transition to a Low-Emissions Future: Thriving in a Clean Energy Economy

Wesley Look

March 25, 2021

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The Forests All around Us: Making Green Infrastructure Available to Everyone

Ann Bartuska

March 24, 2021

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Eliminating Transportation Sector Emissions: Don’t Forget Trucks

Joshua Linn

March 17, 2021

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Equitable Transition to a Low-Emissions Future: Federal Support for a Workforce in Transition

Wesley Look

March 16, 2021

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One Year of COVID: Have We Learned Anything from Prior Pandemics?

Cole Martin

March 11, 2021

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Putting Energy Projections into Context with RFF’s Global Energy Outlook and Benchmark IPCC Scenarios

Seth Villanueva and Daniel Raimi

March 3, 2021

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Can Public Transit Survive COVID and Compete with Uber? A Look at Long-Term Ridership Trends

Joshua Linn

March 3, 2021

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What Happened in Texas? Understanding the Blackouts and Drawing Lessons for the Power Grid

Karen Palmer and Kathryne Cleary

March 2, 2021

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A New Administration Brings Major Changes to Federal Climate Policy

Robert Stavins and Daniel Esty

Feb. 24, 2021

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The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Reducing Emissions in Iron and Steel Production

Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick

Feb. 18, 2021

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Three Approaches to Investing in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Joshua Linn

Feb. 10, 2021

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Estimating the Value of NOAA’s Digital Coast

Kathryne Cleary and Alan Krupnick

Feb. 9, 2021

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The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Reducing Emissions in Oil Refining and Ammonia Production

Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick

Feb. 4, 2021

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Striking Down the Affordable Clean Energy Rule Helps—But Does Not Guarantee—Ambitious Climate Policy

Nathan Richardson, Dallas Burtraw, and Tim Brennan

Jan. 28, 2021

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Science-Based Estimates for the Social Cost of Carbon Will Underpin Sound Climate Policy

Richard G. Newell and Maureen L. Cropper

Jan. 27, 2021

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Restoring National Monuments: The Economics Say Yes

Margaret A. Walls and Paul Jakus

Jan. 25, 2021

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President Biden Can Confront Threats to Nature by Deploying a New Ecosystem Restoration Corps

Carolyn Kousky

Jan. 21, 2021

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The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonization: Evaluating Zero-Carbon “Green” Hydrogen Against Renewable and Nuclear Power

Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick

Jan. 20, 2021

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Make Recovery Easier: A Road Map for the New Administration

Carolyn Kousky

Jan. 18, 2021

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Should Utilities Manage How Your Appliances Use Energy?

Tim Brennan

Jan. 13, 2021