Category: Low Carbon Energy Technologies

CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN: ROLE AND IMPACT OF ASM 2/6/2025

CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN: ROLE AND IMPACT OF ASM

Payne Institute Critical Minerals Program Manager Clarkson Kamurai, Student Researchers Isabel Guajardo and Grace Akinyi, Energy Finance Lab Director Brad Handler and Faculty Fellow Ian Lange write about how a significant increase in the supply of dozens of so-called “critical minerals” will be needed in the coming decades, for uses ranging from defense to no- and low-carbon energy. Mineral endowment and production capacity have therefore become crucial assets for developing economies. Yet one set of the stakeholders — artisanal and small-scale mining (collectively referred to here as ASM) — tends to be overlooked and may prove to be crucial.  February 6, 2025.

Payne Institute for Public Policy to convene on minimizing methane emissions

Payne Institute for Public Policy to convene on minimizing methane emissions

The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines is pleased to announce two upcoming events focused on strategies to reduce methane emissions in the production and distribution of natural gas. These events will bring together experts from industry, academia and policy organizations to discuss emerging technologies, data science, market trends and regulatory developments in methane management.  January 31, 2025.
Managing Methane: Technology and Markets in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape – Webinar – February 12, 2025.
Accelerated Methane Reduction Symposium – March 6 and 7, 2025.

Colorado’s leadership on reducing methane more important than ever 12/18/2024

Colorado’s leadership on reducing methane more important than ever

Erin Tullos, Stephen Curry, and Payne Institute Accelerated Methane Program Manager Simon Lomax write about how in the wake of the 2024 election, federal officials are expected to reassess the nation’s approach to energy, environmental and climate policy.  Colorado’s expertise in regulating methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, will continue to play a critical role on the national and global stage. In fact, Colorado’s continued leadership on methane may be more important now than ever before.  December 18, 2024.

Can we please have a nuanced discussion of development and fossil fuels? 12/13/24

Can we please have a nuanced discussion of development and fossil fuels?

Payne Institute Fellow Todd Moss writes about how he was quoted in a New York Times piece that presents a pernicious strain of black-or-white thinking about climate and poverty. It’s pernicious both because it’s widespread and because it’s false: The real debate on climate and poverty is not 100% renewables now vs climate deniers. And while posing these two extremes as the only choices for global development might make good clickbait, it’s terrible for civil discussion or constructive policymaking. If we’re going to make faster progress on clean energy development, we need to call this false binary out. December 13, 2024.

Five Bipartisan Actions on Energy Security as Trump Returns to the White House 12/4/2024

Five Bipartisan Actions on Energy Security as Trump Returns to the White House

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian, Accelerated Methane Program Manager Simon Lomax, and Roger Pielke, Jr. write about how Republicans and Democrats can meet in the middle on the complex set of issues that comprise energy policy – from emissions, to affordability, to reliability, to national security and geopolitics. In fact, for almost two decades, the U.S. has been a global energy leader, even as power has shifted back and forth between the two major political parties. December 4, 2024.

Mines researchers prioritize responsibility with carbon capture and storage 12/3/2024

Mines researchers prioritize responsibility with carbon capture and storage

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Jessica Smith is part of a team of Mines researchers are working in partnership with local stakeholders to curb these emissions in southern Colorado—and provide a model for similar efforts across the nation as states aim to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and work toward a net-zero carbon future.  December 3, 2024.

Kickstarting VCM crediting for orphan oil wells 11/20/2024

Kickstarting VCM crediting for orphan oil wells

Payne Institute Sustainable Finance Lab Program Manager Brad Handler and Student Researcher Anne Welch write about how voluntary carbon market (VCM) credit issuances are getting underway for plugging orphan oil wells. Having the credits in hand will now let developers educate and get feedback from buyers and others in the ecosystem—a critical step in establishing the activity as a credible and attractive source of carbon offsets.  November 20, 2024.  

Policy, Regulatory, and Market Viability (Part 2)

DEMYSTIFYING HYDROGEN – Policy, Regulatory, and Market Viability (PART 2)

Payne Institute CCUS Program Manager Anna Littlefield and Student Researcher Siddhant Kulkarni write about how hydrogen is emerging as a cornerstone of global energy policy, with nations across the world setting ambitious goals to integrate hydrogen into their clean energy strategies.  In Part One of this two-part commentary, they explored the production pathways and associated ‘color wheel’ of hydrogen, in addition to applications and methods for transporting and storing hydrogen. Building on that foundation, here we explore the policy incentives, regulatory frameworks, and the viability of hydrogen markets.  November 13, 2024.

What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like? 11/12/2024

What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like?

Payne Institute Communications Associate Gregory Wischer and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how the incoming administration would likely implement a mineral policy to increase US mineral production—especially extraction—while supporting American workers and companies. Specifically, this mineral policy could include imposing tariffs, streamlining permitting, and financially incentivising domestic mineral projects.  November 12, 2024.