The Payne Institute for Public Policy @coschoolofmines. World-class insights informing policy on energy, extractives, space, security, and the environment.
Joined February 2018
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- Following 4,178
- Followers 3,977
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986 Photos and videos
We have a major new @payneinstitute -led paper out that analyses the 20 mineral supply chains most important for modern AI data centers.
Hint: Copper is the big one. The full paper is available here:
sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
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In a new, somewhat technical, piece for our friends at AIxEnergy we look at:
The 800-volt DC data center promises faster, leaner AI infrastructure. But synchronized GPU power swings are turning electrical design into a millisecond-scale control problem.
aixenergy.io/the-millisecond…
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How can we make rural mini grids in Africa more sustainable?
With support from @RockefellerFdn, the @payneinstitute is researching how artisanal mining in Zambia can provide the power needed to scale rural
electrification. #M300 #GlobalDev #CleanEnergy
bit.ly/43ZbTfV
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The Payne Institute retweeted
Jun 5
Our latest looks at the material supply chains for directed-energy weapons, both lasers and microwaves.
"Directed energy weapons, high-energy lasers, and high-power microwaves that promise speed-of-light engagement and costs per shot measured in dollars are marketed as the solution to the broken economics of modern air defense. But the supply chains required to build them are dominated by China, an adversary-controlled supply chain."
nationalinterest.org/blog/en…
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Our @payneinstitute Director @MBazilian was on @Marketplace discussing the renaissance in nuclear power and its implications for uranium mining and trade.
"Wyoming's uranium mining industry is making a comeback"
marketplace.org/story/2026/0…
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A new @payneinstitute comment considers the dramatic changes in the solar market in sub-Saharan Africa countries.
The focus is not on energy access, but rather on opportunities to revitalize manufacturing for economic growth. Let us know what you think.
payneinstitute.mines.edu/afr…
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We have a new piece out in the Modern War Institute at West Point (@WarInstitute) that looks at the essential role scandium plays in defense and the wider modern economy.
The Sixty-Ton Problem: Scandium Supply Chain Risk the US Defense Industrial Base
mwi.westpoint.edu/the-sixty-…
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The Payne Institute retweeted
May 20
We explore the very real possibilities of putting data centers in space and at sea in a new essay: aixenergy.io/space_and_sea/
As data centers run into constraints on land with permitting, power, communities, and cooling, developers are looking elsewhere.
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The Payne Institute retweeted
May 19
The @payneinstitute is deeply honored to have our annual Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Symposium hosted on the lands of the Pueblo Laguna.
The opening session called on us over two days to come together to discuss ideas. That theme runs through all of our work. We are grateful for all who attended and all of our sponsors.
Join this essential work: payneinstitute.mines.edu/nat…
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Our latest for @FPRI, looks at the defense industrial base crisis through the lens of Patriot Missile production and use: "Firing a $4 million PAC-3 MSE at a $35,000 Iranian drone creates a ruinous 114:1 cost ratio."
Thank you, @FPRI_Orbis!
fpri.org/article/2026/05/sca…
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Our latest from @payneinstitute Director @MBazilian considers the massive impacts on Asian economies from the energy crisis. They are already causing political unrest.
"How the Gulf Energy Crisis Is Reshaping Asian Economies"
e-ir.info/2026/05/14/how-the…
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Our latest newsletter is out. A great way to catch up on the terrific research happening at the @payneinstitute.
mailchi.mp/627a260e5d36/payn…]
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The war with Iran is upending oil markets. It is also pushing some Asian economies to look to coal. We consider the implications in the @TheNatlInterest:
"The Impacts of the Iran War on Coal"
nationalinterest.org/blog/en…
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The Payne Institute retweeted
May 11
In our latest work on AI, Energy, and Materials, we focus on something called indium phosphide (InP). It is a byproduct of Zinc smelting, and its production is, no surprise, dominated by China.
Scaling AI requires transitioning from electrical signals to light; generating that light requires a continuous supply of InP.
aixenergy.io/indium/
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Our @payneinstitute Energy Finance Lab's Brad Handler presented at the @EnverusEnergy EVOLVE conference this week.
We have published his synopis -
"The Tokenization of Environmental Attributes of Natural Gas"
payneinstitute.mines.edu/the…
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Please join the @payneinstitute on Tuesday, May 12, as we welcome Tristan Abbey, from the US EIA, presenting a hybrid seminar titled
"An Overview of U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2026 Results"
calendar.mines.edu/payne-ins…
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Read our @payneinstitute latest commentary on this research:
"Changes in VIIRS Nighttime Lights and Flares in the Iran Region in March of 2026"
payneinstitute.mines.edu/vii…
May 4
Satellite nighttime lights showing zones of dimming and brightening in the Persian Gulf region in March, 2026 from the @payneinstitute:
Overlay with percent dimming and percent brightening relative to the 2025.
Tehran and most cities in Iran show dimming. The exception is the Shomal region of Iran, along the southern edge of the Caspian Sea. The few patches of magenta in Iran are due to increased natural gas flaring. The country of Iraq was experiencing a nationwide shutdown of its electric power grid, resulting in green, yellow, and orange hues. The power blackout traces to Iranian attacks on oil and gas facilities in early March. Iraq's power plants run on natural gas. The magenta patches north of Baghdad are flares that have increased in activity levels. Other areas where the brightness of lighting increased include much of Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, and portions of Oman.
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The latest from the @payneinstitute on quantum systems.
May 1
Our new article explores supply chains for the material needs for quantum systems.
"Quantum chokepoints: The industrial ceiling of the tech race: Logistics, supplies of key elements constrain next-level computing"
Link is here: iise.org/isemagazine/details…
The paper is available directly here: payneinstitute.mines.edu/wp-…
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The Hormuz crisis is showing Beijing how maritime pressure can weaken rivals, test deterrence, and exploit Taiwan’s acute energy dependence.
Our latest in @Natlinterest -
"How the Iran War Makes a Taiwan Crisis More Likely"
nationalinterest.org/blog/en…
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Our @payneinstitute Director @MBazilian was on @Marketplace today.
"The UAE is leaving the OPEC oil cartel. Here's what that could mean for oil prices."
marketplace.org/story/2026/0…
Apr 29
Always good to speak to the terrific journalists @Marketplace! This time we discussed the news that the UAE is leaving OPEC later this week. I noted that:
1. This move had been signaled for some years
2. The cartel's constraints on UAE production were at odds with domestic policy and revenue.
3. UAE is one of the few in OPEC with spare capacity.
4. The UAE pipeline is playing an important role while the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and into the future.
5. That high prices will likely stick around for some time - even years - as the risk premiums associated with passing through Hormuz will remain after it is opened.
6. The move was presented solely as a policy decision, but geopolitics are, of course, at play.
7. UAE was attacked by Iran with over 3000 munitions thus far in the war. More than any other country, including Israel.
8. Iran was a founding member of OPEC. UAE joined some years later.
marketplace.org/story/2026/0…
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