RAND Experts Available to Discuss Rising Fuel Prices, Domestic Oil Production and Alternative Fuels

As gasoline prices rise across the United States, the issue has become a topic of the presidential primary campaign and about risks the trend poses to the nation's economic recovery.

The RAND Corporation has several experts available who can discuss a range of energy issues, including: the complex global system of oil availability, supply and demand that affects prices at the pump; what role might alternative fuels play in meeting the nation's transportation fuel needs; how large are domestic oil reserves and how quickly can those reserves be tapped?

And if higher prices cause consumers to cut back on driving, what will that mean for the nation's roads, which are maintained by gas taxes collected on each gallon of gas sold?

James T. Bartis is a senior policy researcher focusing on analyses of the international petroleum supply chain, assessments of alternative fuels for military and civilian applications, and development prospects for coal-to-liquids and oil shale. He is a co-author of "Producing Liquid Fuels from Coal: Prospects and Policy Issues" and "Oil Shale Development in the United States."

Keith Crane is the director of the Environment, Energy, and Economic Development program at RAND, as well as a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He is co-author of "Imported Oil and U.S. National Security."

Paul Sorensen is an operations researcher and associate director of the Transportation, Space, and Technology Program at RAND. His research focuses on urban and regional planning, transportation, energy, environment, and evaluating mechanisms for implementing a national system of mileage-based road use charges to replace current excise fuel taxes. Recent publications include "Moving Toward Vehicle Miles of Travel Fees to Replace Fuel Taxes."

Martin Wachs is a senior principal researcher at RAND and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, focusing on the relationships between transportation, land use, and air quality; transportation needs of the elderly; techniques for the evaluation of transportation systems; and the use of performance measurement in transportation planning. He is co-author of "The Option of an Oil Tax to Fund Transportation and Infrastructure."