Energy & Development
Supporting developing economies in establishing sustainable energy systems and reducing energy poverty around the globe
Supporting developing economies in establishing sustainable energy systems and reducing energy poverty around the globe
Accelerating a transition to a radically different, and inclusive, energy system is a generational challenge. The poorest three-quarters of the global population still use only about 10% of global energy. Giving power to the poor through effective energy and development is a key factor in ensuring vibrant economic development around the world.
Access to modern energy services has been called the “golden thread” of development. As nations develop, energy demand continually increases as does the need for further infrastructure.
The Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines and our partners are focusing on the interconnected impacts of energy development on markets, trade, security, geopolitics and environment in creating vibrant industrialized societies. We are together creating a home for global discussion on the issue of energy and development.
NEWS
Trump’s Chaotic Agenda Has a Critical Through Line 2/26/25
Trump’s Chaotic Agenda Has a Critical Through Line
Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian contributes to this article about the whirlwind that has been U.S. President Donald Trump’s first month back in the Oval Office, analysts, officials, and diplomats have scrambled to understand the returning U.S. leader’s scattered—and often outlandish—foreign-policy fixations. February 26, 2025.
The Troubled Energy Transition 2/25/25
The Troubled Energy Transition
Payne Institute Advisory Board member Atul Arya wrote this article with Daniel Yergin and Peter Orzag about how in 2024 global production of wind and solar energy reached record levels—levels that would have seemed unthinkable not long before. Over the past 15 years, wind and solar have grown from virtually zero to 15 percent of the world’s electricity generation, and solar panel prices have fallen by as much as 90 percent. February 25, 2025.
The quest for water heads to the moon, via spacecraft built in Colorado 2/23/2025
The quest for water heads to the moon, via spacecraft built in Colorado
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Angel Abbud-Madrid contributed to this article about how the Lockheed Martin space division in Littleton built the Lunar Trailblazer satellite, which will orbit the moon to locate where water may be hiding. February 23, 2025.
Colorado School of Mines, UNSA announce third phase of sustainable mining research partnership 2/20/2025
Colorado School of Mines, UNSA announce third phase of sustainable mining research partnership
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Paul Santi is featured in this article about how the Colorado School of Mines and Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa (UNSA) in Peru announce a third phase of collaborative research on sustainable mining. New research projects funded through the Center for Mining Sustainability will tackle topics ranging from rare earth minerals and sustainable aquifer management, to nature-based water treatment and the reuse and repurposing of mine tailings. February 20, 2025.
A path to US Tribal energy sovereignty 1/23/2025
A path to US Tribal energy sovereignty
The Payne Institute Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty (NAMES) Initiative and co-writers look at Native American Tribal lands that are extraordinarily rich with energy and mineral resources. A rapidly changing energy system, increasing energy demand, and energy-related national security imperatives present Tribes with a generational economic opportunity. January 23, 2025.
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.
Small and Medium Infrastructure Development Projects – Policy Implications
Small and Medium Infrastructure Development Projects – Policy Implications
Payne Institute Senior Fellow Jamal Saghir writes about how the many years of observations in developing countries make it very clear that no country can achieve sustained increases in GDP without spending on infrastructure, whether for energy services, water treatment plants, roads, railways, ports and airports, telecommunications, digital transformation, urban services, rural facilities, or environmental protection. November 26, 2024.
Moving in the wrong direction
Moving in the wrong direction
Payne Institute’s Earth Observation Group provided the satellite data in this article about flaring emissions from global upstream oil and gas production activity increased by 7% from 2022 to 2023, according to latest Rystad Energy research. Upstream activities emit about 1 gigatonne per year of carbon dioxide (CO2) in total, with flaring contributing around 30% of those emissions in 2023 assuming 98% flaring efficiency on average. October 15, 2024.
Payne Institute for Public Policy 2024 State of Critical Minerals Report highlights potential of mining tailings and steep nickel cost curve 10/10/2024
Payne Institute for Public Policy 2024 State of Critical Minerals Report highlights potential of mining tailings and steep nickel cost curve
A new critical minerals report from The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines highlights the vast potential from mining tailings, the steep cost curve for Nickel, new legislation focused on increasing the domestic mining of critical minerals and the U.S. government’s recent $4.9 billion of investments in mining and processing. October 10, 2024.
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For more information about the Energy & Development Research Area at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Gregory Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.