The Resilient Energy Economies (REE) Initiative is currently funding applied research projects on strategies to help US fossil fuel–dependent communities navigate the transition to a net zero emissions future.
We are no longer accepting new proposal submissions at this time, but you can view the
request for proposals here. Read on for brief descriptions of each REE-funded project.
Funded Research Projects
Transforming Wyoming: Fiscal Policy and Economic Diversification Options Beyond Fossil Fuels
David Aadland and Alex James, University of Wyoming
An analysis of the fiscal challenges and economic opportunities for Wyoming in the energy transition. The researchers’ findings will be directly communicated to state policymakers, including via presentations at the Governor’s Business Forum and targeted reports to the Wyoming Business Council.
Native Nations in the Energy Transition
Andrew Curley (Diné), University of Arizona
An examination of public attitudes towards economic development options in oil- and gas- producing Tribal nations including the Jicarilla Apache, Navajo, and Southern Ute. Through interviews and comparative analysis with these tribes, the project seeks to identify sustainable development options and legal frameworks that respect tribal sovereignty while ensuring economic stability. The findings will offer evidence-based insights and recommendations for policymakers on how to balance environmental goals with the economic needs and governance autonomy of fossil- fuel-producing Native Nations.
Revitalizing Coal Country: Assessing the Effectiveness of Recovery Initiatives in Appalachia
Levan Elbakidze (West Virginia University) and Suhyun Jung (Oregon State University)
An analysis and evaluation of the Obama-era Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative (POWER) Initiative programs in Appalachia. This study will create a novel dataset of POWER programs, providing insights into the demographic and socioeconomic changes experienced by coal-dependent communities following the closure of coal mines and power plants. By analyzing differences across communities, the project will provide evidence- based recommendations for tailored regional policies, including targeted economic support aimed at enhancing resilience to economic shocks.
Worker and Host Community Experience of Fossil Plant Closure Announcements
Emily Grubert, University of Notre Dame
An evaluation of the effectiveness of local planning for power plant closure, with case studies of three plant closures with different degrees of planning (specific locations to be determined). By comparing communities with different levels of closure notice, the project will identify effective strategies that policymakers can adopt to reduce economic shocks and support residents. Findings will offer concrete recommendations for future policies that mandate advance closure deadlines, providing examples from successful international models and case studies, which can guide US policymakers in enacting transition-supportive policies at a national level.
New Mexico’s Just Transition: Learning by Doing
Ricardo Hausmann and Tim O’Brien, Harvard University
A research and capacity building collaboration between the Growth Lab and New Mexico’s Economic Development Department. A dedicated research fellow from the Growth Lab, a research program at the Harvard Kennedy School, will work alongside state and local officials to better diagnose vulnerabilities and identify growth opportunities. This work will advance the state’s strategic economic development planning and execution related to a just transition, empower local communities to strengthen economic resilience, and document learning in practice for a wider local, state, and federal community of practice.
Assessing the Effectiveness of the “Centralia Model” for Economic Diversification: A Community Engaged Case Study of the Big Hanaford Coal Plant Closure
Anne Junod, Andrew Rumbach, and Daniel Teles, Urban Institute
A community-engaged study of the economic effects of Centralia, Washington’s Coal Transition Grant Program, implemented due to the closure of the Big Hanaford coal plant. This project will produce a public-facing brief, shared with local, state, and federal policymaker networks to guide power plant communities on grant-based economic diversification.
Evaluating the Spending in Fossil Fuel Communities from Recent Federal Legislation
Noah Kaufman, Columbia University
A nationwide assessment of economic performance across fossil fuel communities and an evaluation of the effectiveness of federal spending at improving these local economies. This project seeks to provide policymakers with estimations of the economic impact of recent federal place-based investments in fossil fuel-dependent communities, offering clear metrics on successes and challenges. By providing independent data on the outcomes of these funding streams, the research will equip policymakers with actionable insights on which approaches most effectively support local economies and job creation.
The Distributional Effects of the Clean Energy Transition in the United States
Eleanor Krause, University of Kentucky
A nationwide analysis of how the decline of coal has affected workers to date, and an analysis of workers at firms that have entered or exited fossil fuel communities during the past decade. This research aims to directly inform federal and state policymakers by providing evidence on the specific challenges facing energy communities, such as skill and geographic mismatches, which can hinder the success of economic development strategies and clean energy investments like those in the IRA.
Organizing the Energy Transition in Tennessee Fossil Plant Communitie
Nikki Luke, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
A qualitative analysis of fossil fuel worker transitions in Tennessee, with a focus on the role of labor organizing in improving job transition outcomes. This project will include interviews with dislocated workers, with and without union representation, to assess the effect of unions in supporting employment transitions. The project will culminate with a workshop in Knoxville that will bring together local and state workforce stakeholders, including union and community partners, to discuss strategies for achieving community benefits from energy investments while emphasizing high-road practices for training and upskilling.
Public Opinion on Economic Transition Challenges and Opportunities in Oil and Gas Producing Communities
Paasha Mahdavi (University of California at Santa Barbara), Matto Mildenberger (UCSB), Ranjit Deshmukh (UCSB), Cesar Martinez-Alvarez (UCSB), Carrie Fernandes (UCSB), and Dustin Tingley (Harvard University)
A national public opinion survey to gauge household opinions on the appeal of different economic development strategies in oil- and gas-producing communities. The research will provide actionable insights for policymakers by revealing public policy preferences, enabling elected officials to align their approaches with constituent priorities, such as support for oil well remediation, investment in low-emissions energy technologies, and other strategies. Additionally, findings will enhance public understanding of economic development strategies, fostering better communication and facilitating informed decision-making among local and state officials.
The Potential for Lithium Extraction from Brines as a Transition or Replacement Industry in Oil and Gas Dependent Communities
Aaron Malone (Colorado School of Mines), Elizabeth Holley (Colorado School of Mines), Linda Battalora (Colorado School of Mines), Alannah Brett (University of Lausanne), and Beia Spiller (Resources for the Future)
An analysis of direct lithium extraction from oilfield brines as an economic opportunity for oil and gas dependent communities, with a focus on the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas. The research team will disseminate findings via public webinars and articles, and also directly to consulted experts through briefings and outreach meetings, including stakeholders involved in economic management and development in the Smackover Basin.
The Energy Transition and Public Finances in Oil Refining Communities
Christopher Malloy (University of Oklahoma) and Vincent Thivierge (University of Ottawa)
A nationwide analysis of the local public finance implications of oil refinery closures and conversions. State-of-the-art econometric methods will be used to compare otherwise comparable regions with and without closing or converting oil refineries. The research team will actively engage key stakeholders in two states with important oil refinery activity (Oklahoma and California), leveraging their affiliation with the University of Oklahoma and their participation in the California EPA Carbon Neutrality study.
The Energy Transition in California’s Central Valley: Challenges and Opportunities
Nyakundi Michieka and Rich W. Ryan, California State University at Bakersfield
An analysis of the economic challenges and opportunities of the transition away from oil production in California’s Central Valley. The research team will collaborate with regional outlets like the Kern Economic Journal and host an economic dashboard through the Center for Economic Education and Research at California State University, Bakersfield. The dashboard will provide policymakers with timely economic data and analyses. The research team will foster conversation between academics, government officials, and community stakeholders with the goal of building economic resilience in the Central Valley.
Transition Funding Formula Development for Arizona Coal Communities
Amanda Ormond and Kit Batten, Arizona State University
This project will develop and socialize a recommended funding formula to support communities in Arizona that have been, or are likely to be, affected by the closure of a coal-fired power plant. The principal investigators will educate and collaborate with Arizona policymakers on specific gubernatorial, legislative, and agency actions to help secure funding and support for affected communities. The research team will disseminate research findings through established networks, including in the Federal government, to ensure that critical insights reach key decision-makers.
Powering Economic Futures in Fossil Fuel Communities: Understanding Levers for Economic Diversification and the Role of Local Institutions
Sandeep Pai and Joey James, Swaniti Global
This project will conduct qualitative and quantitative research to assess the most promising economic diversification strategies for one coal-dependent and one oil-dependent county in the United States. These results will complement recent work by the project team and leverage the team’s extensive network of economic development and just transition practitioners to build a broader understanding of the strategies available for regions undergoing economic transition. The project team will draft briefs for local governments and state legislatures, as well as host public webinars to share findings with a broader audience.
Worker Transitions in the New Energy Economy
Jisung Park (University of Pennsylvania) and Mark Curtis (Wake Forest University)
An analysis of the role of firms in determining transition costs for fossil fuel workers and communities. The outcomes of this research will provide local, state, and federal policymakers with actionable insights by identifying key strategies of firms and characteristics of workers that support successful transitions away from fossil fuels. To ensure effective communication of these findings, the researcher will conduct targeted outreach, including workshops and briefings with policymakers, to present a detailed blueprint for training programs, subsidies, and regulations that support workforce adaptation and firm retention.
Municipal Debt in Oil- and Natural Gas-Reliant Communities During the Shale Boom: Implications for Fiscal Risk and Resilience During the Energy Transition
David Popp and Brandon Charles, Syracuse University
A nationwide analysis of the public debt accumulated by oil and gas communities during the shale boom, the associated fiscal risks in a world beginning to transition away from oil and gas, and possible mitigating responses. By identifying communities with high debt burdens and those at risk of financial strain, the project will identify locations that face the greatest fiscal risks from a transition away from oil and gas and help policymakers in these communities avoid the fiscal “death spirals” that some coal dependent communities are facing today.
US Oil and Gas Communities in a Net Zero Future: Engaging with Local Stakeholders to Inform Federal Policy
Daniel Raimi and Zachary Whitlock, Resources for the Future
Building on related work in New Mexico, this project will provide an assessment of economic development options in oil- and gas-producing regions of western Colorado and central Oklahoma. By conducting in-person interviews and facilitating dialogue with local government officials, community groups, and industry representatives, the project will produce case-specific insights on which economic strategies and policies work best in regions visited by the researchers. These findings, together with the newly formed networks among local and national policymakers, will guide future policy designs and implementations that are tailored to the unique challenges and goals of diverse oil- and gas-producing communities.
Enhancing Community Fiscal Resilience Against Coal Plant Retirements
Charles Sims (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Matthew Murray (UT-K), Scott Holladay (UT-K), Jill Welch (UT-K), and Rebecca Davis (Stephen F. Austin University)
This project will produce a nationwide database on expected timelines of future coal plant retirements and switches to natural gas. The study will then conduct an analysis of the associated fiscal risks to local economies and school systems. The findings will help communities prepare for power plant closures and help state and local officials make informed decisions on strategies and timelines for supporting long-term community economic resilience.
Navigating the Natural Resource Curse: Local Public Finance and Economic Outcomes in Rural America
Heather Stephens (West Virginia University), Sam Workman (West Virginia University), and Amanda Weinstein (Center on Rural Innovation)
An analysis of how economic outcomes depend on local government revenues and expenditures, with a focus on West Virginia local governments. The analysis will provide data-driven insights to policymakers regarding public finance strategies that can be used to mitigate financial shortfalls, including those caused by the energy transition. In addition to academic conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles, the findings will be disseminated via accessible summaries and visualizations on multiple platforms that engage a broader audience. The project team will actively engage with policymakers through the established network of the Center on Rural Innovation and West Virginia University’s Regional Research Institute and Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs.
Cleaning Up the Legacy of Oil and Gas on Native Land: Insights from Canada
Laurel Wheeler (University of Alberta and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Center for Indian Country Development), Lucija Muehlenbachs (University of Calgary and Resources for the Future)
A case study of the effectiveness of a Canadian federal government program that subsidized the cleanup of oil and gas wells and specifically targeted benefits to Indigenous-owned businesses. The project will examine the extent to which targeted subsidies to mitigate the risks of inactive wells affect the economic and environmental resilience of Native communities and shed light on whether programs like this one can serve as an engine for economic growth in fossil fuel-dependent communities more generally.
Can Improved Waterway Quality Enhance Economic Resilience in Coal Communities?
Jeremy Weber (University of Pittsburgh), Max Harleman (Georgia College and State University), Katie Jo Black (Kenyon College), and Shawn McCoy (University of Las Vegas, Nevada)
An analysis of whether remediating abandoned mine drainage that pollutes streams and rivers can provide meaningful and sustained economic benefits to coal-dependent communities in Pennsylvania. The findings will clarify whether and in what ways restoration efforts can create broad benefits to communities and help officials identify opportunities for complementary public investments. The analysis will empower local leaders to attract new businesses and secure federal or third-party funding for further community development.
.png)