National Commission on Energy Policy (U.S.)

Research Paper

244339632

Rand Corporation

NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Alternative Fuels ; NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ;

Both high import payments for petroleum motor fuels and concerns regarding emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are motivating interest in possible fuel substitutes. In this report, RAND researchers assess the potential future production levels, production costs, greenhouse gases, and other environmental implications of synthetic crude oil extracted from oil sands and fuels produced via coal liquefaction relative to conventional petroleum-based transportation fuels. The findings indicate the potential cost-competitiveness of these alternative fuels and the potential trade-offs that their deployment requires between economic and environmental considerations.

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US Transportation Collection