Recent Submissions

  • Steel rising: harnessing Nigeria's potential for global competitiveness in the steel industry

    Udofia, Edikan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2024-02-29)
    Payne Institute student researcher Edikan Udofia writes about Nigeria is endowed with more than 2 billion metric tons of iron ore reserves and is striving to position itself as a key player in the worldwide steel sector. Despite encountering challenges in the past regarding enhancing its steel manufacturing capabilities, Nigeria is currently well-placed to harness its abundant mineral wealth and enhance its steel production capacity.
  • VIIRS sensors show breadth of Texas wildfires

    Zhizhin, Mikhail; Elvidge, Christopher; Ziv, Kristin; Bazilian, Morgan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2024-02-29)
    The Earth Observation Group (EOG) at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines, has calculated the temperatures and spatial extent of active burning in the Texas Panhandle with their Nightfire algorithm applied to data collected by NOAA's Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Suite (VIIRS).  The VIIRS data reveal the locations of both flaming and non-flaming combustion, a capability unique to the nightfire data product.
  • Solar surge puts pressure on silver supply (but look for the silver lining)

    Ziv, Kristin; Bazilian, Morgan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2024-02-14)
    As the global demand for solar panels soars, so does the demand for silver – a key component in the manufacturing of photovoltaic (PV) panels. Solar installations are breaking records worldwide in both volume and low price, according to BloombergNEF.
  • Payne Institute's EOG measures Chilean wildfires

    Zhizhin, Mikhail; Elvidge, Christopher; Ziv, Kristin; Bazilian, Morgan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2024-02-09)
    The Chilean wildfires could be the deadliest on record in that country, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.  Chilean authorities say the fire has killed at least 131 people and hundreds more are missing.
  • Transparency through technology: the vital link between monitoring and public perception in CCS initiatives

    Littlefield, Anna; Losche, Charlie; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2024-02-09)
    Payne Institute CCUS Program Manager Anna Littlefield and Project Canary's Charlie Losche write about how the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has catalyzed significant growth in CCS, with projections indicating a substantial increase in capture capacity by 2035.  With this expansion comes challenges, notably in securing Class VI permits for CO₂ injection, and most pressingly in maintaining public trust.
  • Decarbonization of ethanol: pathways to monetization series. Part one, Stacking 45Q with voluntary carbon markets: importance of policy incentives in economic frameworks for CCS projects

    Littlefield, Anna; Cheng Siew, Chiang; Matson, Mike; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-12-11)
    Payne Institute CCUS Program Manager Anna Littlefield and Fellows Siew Chiang and Mike Matson write about how CCS has been at the forefront of decarbonization commitments in public and private sectors, with the development of CCS projects rapidly accelerating in the U.S. following the signing of federal incentives of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  They explore the economic pathways for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, beginning with "credit stacking" voluntary carbon market credits and Section 45Q tax credits, with additional pieces on both the California-based Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Section 45Z tax credit.
  • Prolonged dimming of Ukrainian urban illumination: a measure of conflict's impact

    Zhizhin, Mikhail; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-11-15)
    Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Researcher Mikhail Zhizhin writes about how natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes or pandemics trigger a short-term dimming of city lights, followed by a rapid recovery. The war in Ukraine, however, has induced a novel pattern of city lights changes: an abrupt and sustained decline in illumination from the outset of the conflict, persisting for two years with partial recovery observed in some cities.
  • Empowering or repressive: navigating the complexities of renewable portfolio standards in the US

    Kulkarni, Siddhant; Littlefield, Anna; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-11-13)
    Payne Institute Student Researcher Siddhant Kulkarni and Program Manager Anna Littlefield write about how Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) represent a strategic push by governments to usher in an era of clean, renewable energy. While RPS are not the only policy-mechanisms that incentivize renewable energy, they have been in place for decades across the world. Data from the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) shows that worldwide installed renewable energy capacity has almost doubled in the last decade, thanks in part to the RPS policies implemented. In the US these regulations are particular to individual states and aim to combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions and by extension, climate change.
  • Governments' recent steps to advance climate impact; select World Investment Forum highlights

    Handler, Bradley P.; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-10-25)
    Payne Institute Sustainable Finance Lab Program Manager Brad Handler writes about the 8th World Investment Forum focused on spurring sustainable development across low and middle income economies. The challenges loomed large, as speakers noted that not only were absolute spending levels far short of what was needed to be "on track" to meet energy transition and SDG targets, but that recent spending in the developing world was far too concentrated in select economies.
  • Modular carbon capture and the Inflation Reduction Act

    Littlefield, Anna; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-10-10)
    Payne Institute Program Manager Anna Littlefield writes about how as the field of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) continues to evolve, the importance of modular carbon capture technologies has become increasingly apparent. August of 2023 marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) being signed into law, and its potential to incentivize smaller-scale capture systems is manifesting in modular capture innovation.
  • Strategy and planning to redouble climate adaptation in Africa

    Eichhorn, Julia; Flores, Daniel; Ijjasz-Vasquez, Ede; Saghir, Jamal; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-10-01)
    Payne Institute Fellow Jamil Saghir, Julia Eichhorn, Daniel Flores, and Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez write about how mounting evidence continues to show that Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the adverse impacts of climate change. Ramping up climate finance flows for adaptation is critical to addressing the irreversible impacts of climate change, but financing alone will not be enough to protect the continent. Having a clear set of priorities, with institutions that have the capacity to plan properly and take adaptation actions at scale, is equally important.
  • The state of critical minerals report 2023

    Bazilian, Morgan; Clough, Gregory; Akamboe, Juliet; Malone, Aaron; Amoah, Macdonald; Lange, Ian; Marin, Yasmin E.; Manful-Sam, Ebenezer; Handler, Bradley P.; Ayaburi, Felix; et al. (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-09-26)
    The Payne Institute for Public Policy and the Colorado School of Mines has released our inaugural annual State of Critical Minerals Report. The report is aimed at contributing to the important discourse on critical minerals and how to harness them in a more sustainable manner as a catalyst to the energy transition and by extension, climate action. It explores various parts of the critical minerals value chain and the interplay of these segments in driving a successful minerals industry. The report covers geopolitics and what that means for national security, the demand and supply dynamics of critical minerals markets, financial markets and investments, the future of sustainable mining and the environment, and social governance (ESG) factors confronting the industry.
  • The African Climate Summit – averting the climate crisis

    Akamboe, Juliet; Bazilian, Morgan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-09-05)
    Payne Institute Research Associate Juliet Akamboe and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how climate change poses a significant threat to Africa, a continent already grappling with challenges including poverty and a lack of access to basic human needs like clean water, healthcare, education, jobs and electricity. Africa is already witnessing severe environmental consequences with changing rainfall patterns, severe droughts and extreme weather conditions, which are stalling socio-economic development.  The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) taking place in Nairobi, this week is a great forum to discuss the role Africa can play in bridging the gap between the Global North and South in addressing the climate crisis.
  • Niger, uranium, and the coup d'etat

    Freeman, Baba; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-09-01)
    Payne Institute ESG Researcher Baba Freeman writes about how the recent coup d'etat in Niger, a key supplier of uranium, has created some level of anxiety in the market and brought forward new questions for stakeholders across the industry and the West African sub-region. The event calls for a fresh look at the potential market impact and the way forward to resolving the current disputation in a manner that preserves Niger's development agenda, minimizes political risk to investors, and aids the emergence of a more resilient global critical minerals supply chain.
  • Proposed West Africa-Europe gas pipelines will fail without a radical shift in thinking

    Freeman, Baba; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-08-29)
    Payne Institute ESG Researcher Baba Freeman writes about how the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 injected a renewed urgency into Western European countries' energy security concerns and led to an increase in demand for non-Russian sources of oil and gas. Consequently, Europe is expected to take a larger share of future LNG supplies even as greenfield pipeline projects are being conceived to supply West African gas to Western Europe. These projects include the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) but may not be able to adequately meet these projects' future obligations.
  • Investors in African mining ventures must refresh their risk management processes

    Freeman, Baba; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-08-17)
    Payne Institute Research Associate Baba Freeman writes about how the frequency of coup d'etats in the Sahel region is troubling and calls for mining investors to refresh their political risk assessment processes. The recent trend of militarization must surely prod investors to further assess the likelihood and possible impact of military interventions and incorporate key takeaways from current events into their risk management tools and processes. While the risk of a total loss of capital due to outright warfare can be assessed deterministically, subjective measures of political instability can substantially impact the "country risk" premium that mining investors must pay over and above the risk-free cost of capital.
  • Renewable energy in Africa: Kenya's success and its possible implementation in Angola

    Lima, Yara Alexandra; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-07-06)
    Payne Institute student researcher Yara Alexandra Lima writes about how Africa represents some of the world's largest reserves of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, however, it accounts for half of the world's power deficit. Many African countries are working towards developing their energy sector and, consequently, improving their economic, social, and political framework. This paper will discuss the key strategies employed by Kenya to develop its energy sector and increase its electrification rate, and the possibility of applying these policies in other African countries, namely Angola.
  • Rising costs' impact on renewable power generation

    Handler, Bradley P.; Shandy, Mason; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-06-27)
    Payne Institute Program Manager Brad Handler and student researcher Mason Shandy write about how the inflationary pressures that have gripped the global economy over the last 18 months, along with central banks' efforts to lessen them, are weighing on the economics of building new power generation. Despite recent evidence of some moderation in these inflationary pressures, it is reasonable to expect that they will persist for some time.  These higher costs disproportionately impact development of variable renewable energy (VRE), such as wind and solar, and in emerging market (EM) economies.
  • Colorado (CDPHE/AQD) rule making verifying methane emissions reporting

    Crompton, James; Manful-Sam, Ebenezer; Lindsey, Wyatt; Nichilo, Pierluigi; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-06-05)
    Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Jim Crompton, and Student Researchers Ebenezer Manful-Sam, Wyatt Lindsay and Pierluigi Nichilo write about how reducing greenhouse gases, especially methane emissions, from oil and gas production activities is one of the major themes of regulatory actions both at state, provincial and federal levels in North America as part of society's path for addressing climate change. One of the biggest barriers for methane reduction is not financial or technology, but rather a lack of rigorous and transparent data. In 2021, Colorado's Air Quality Control Commission adopted a rule that limits how much greenhouse gas can be emitted per barrel of oil and gas produced.
  • Ambitious EPA rules to face stark permitting reality

    Littlefield, Anna; Handler, Bradley P.; Bazilian, Morgan; Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy (Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes LibraryPayne Institute for Public Policy, 2023-05-17)
    Payne Institute Program Managers Anna Littlefield and Brad Handler, and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how in early May EPA proposed major new carbon emissions standards for coal and many gas-fired electric power plants. Prominent among the options is carbon capture and storage (CCS)—this represents a unique and significant possibility for the technology. The proposal highlights the pressing need to accelerate permitting of CO2 pipelines and injection wells.

View more