In recent years, especially under the Biden administration, there has been an unprecedented attack on the supply of reliable and affordable energy, from reducing oil and gas lease sales to the administration’s efforts to shift from reliable electricity sources to renewable energy sources. The partisan Inflation Reduction Act is a central piece of the harmful electrification effort that will undermine the electricity grid. If all of this was not bad enough, there are also governmental efforts to limit Americans from using reliable and affordable energy, such as efforts to severely limit the availability of gas-powered vehicles and bans on natural gas appliances.
Ensuring abundant, reliable, and affordable energy is a must, as is consumer freedom when it comes to energy. The Competitive Enterprise Institute advocates for policies to keep energy abundant, affordable, and competitive. Carbon fuels—coal, natural gas, and oil—provide about 80 percent of U.S. and global energy. They are the world’s dominant energy sources because, in most markets, they beat the alternatives in both cost and performance.
CEI is leading efforts to defend the personal energy choices of Americans. We advocate for policies that will stop government at all levels from banning or restricting what good and services Americans can choose to best meet their needs.
For decades, CEI has opposed regulatory overreach from the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies that put undue costs on energy industries and consumers. These include President Biden’s new power plant rule, the “Blackout Plan,” which would ignore the major questions problems detailed in West Virginia v. EPA, increase consumer electricity prices, and threaten grid reliability. CEI’s research and policy proposals have been instrumental on energy issues.
Featured Posts
News Release
Trump EPA revokes endangerment finding, big win for the American people: CEI analysis
On Thursday, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the revocation of the 2009 endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gas emissions from new…
News Release
Coalition urges Senate to support pro-energy DATA Act
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute sent a coalition letter to the U.S. Senate in support of the Decentralized Access to Technology Alternatives (DATA) Act of…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: The PROVE IT Act, ‘green’ policies raising housing costs, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Search Posts
News Release
Trump EPA revokes endangerment finding, big win for the American people: CEI analysis
On Thursday, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the revocation of the 2009 endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gas emissions from new…
News Release
Coalition urges Senate to support pro-energy DATA Act
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute sent a coalition letter to the U.S. Senate in support of the Decentralized Access to Technology Alternatives (DATA) Act of…
Letters
Removing Federal Barriers to Off-Grid Power: Enabling Innovation to Meet America’s Surging Electricity Demand
Dear Senator, Electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers and other sources is rising at a rapid rate. At the same time, power plant retirements…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: The PROVE IT Act, ‘green’ policies raising housing costs, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Daily Caller
Republicans Let ‘Carbon Tax Framework’ Slip Through Funding Bill, Opponents Warn
The Daily Caller cited CEI’s expert on the PROVE IT Act. Language buried in a report accompanying the energy spending bill would require a study…
Blog
Greener housing is costlier housing
There are many policy ideas for addressing rising housing costs, ranging from good ones like tax code changes that bring more homes onto the…
NPR
Energy Star has emerged stronger after Trump’s EPA tried to end it
NPR cited CEI’s work on the EPA President Trump’s proposed budget last year would have zeroed out Energy Star funding at the EPA. Calls…
Fox News
Trump successfully turns off crazy Biden era regulations on your home appliances
President Donald Trump has sharply diverged from his predecessor on nearly every issue, perhaps most of all concerning federal home appliance regulations. The Biden administration…
Comment
The Case for Expanding Offshore Leasing to Support Affordable and Reliable Energy
On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Commending Zeldin on His Leadership at the EPA
Dear Administrator Zeldin: The undersigned conservative organizations want to commend you for your leadership in 2025 and look forward to working with you in 2026.
Inside EPA
GOP States, Free-Market Group Urge EPA To Further Narrow WOTUS’ Scope
Inside EPA cited CEI on the EPA The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) echoed those calls in its comments, noting that the agencies’ proposal solicits comment…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: US withdraws from climate change convention, proposed Endangered Species Act reform, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
The Orange County
America’s AI electricity ‘crisis’ is easily fixed: Unleash market forces
The Orange County Register cited CEI’s expert on data centers public utility price. Communities are rebelling against the construction of massive data farms.
The Washington Examiner
Trump pulls US from UN’s ‘premier’ agreement on climate change in sweeping order
The Washington Examiner cited CEI’s expert on economic prosperity “Affordable and reliable energy is vital to growth and prosperity, as is removing harmful governmental policies…
Blog
AI and the electricity blackout America needs
The Washington Post’s latest coverage of the so-called “data center rebellion” highlights a trend building across America: communities rising up against server farms powering…
Blog
Burned by the sun: How tax incentives distort the residential solar market
As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, a much-hyped tax credit boosting the installation of solar panels on residential rooftops came to a…
Comment
CEI Submits Comment to Properly Define Regulated Waters under the CWA
RE: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0322Dear Ms. Jensen and Mr. Boyd: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: Clean Water Act reform, new CAFE standards, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Comment
CEI Comments on the Proposed Rescission of the Blanket 4(d) Rule
Dear Mr. Tirpak, On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposed…
Blog
CEI study says it’s time to unplug federal appliance regulations
Stoves, air conditioners, ceiling fans, water heaters, light fixtures, refrigerators, washing machines, furnaces, dishwashers, and more – nearly everything that plugs in or fires up…
News Release
Report: Government regulations on household appliances increase costs, worsen performance
A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report explains how needless government regulations have made everyday household appliances cost more and perform worse. “Appliance regulations have gotten…
Study
Free the Appliances!
Introduction The Department of Energy’s (DOE) appliance efficiency standards program has been in place for decades, subjecting nearly every major home appliance to multiple rounds…
Congressman Gabe Evans
Reps. Evans’, Gray’s bipartisan FIRE Act passes through E&C’s Environment Subcommittee.
Congressman Gabe Evans cited CEI’s expert on the CAA “Congress needs to take action to ensure that, codified within the CAA, states are not unfairly…
Blog
What’s coming in 2026 for energy and environmental policy
There are many important energy and environmental developments in the works, both in the executive branch and in Congress. The following are two different lists.
Blog
Subcommittee to markup commonsense Clean Air Act bills
Tomorrow, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Environment Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a markup of several Clean Air Act-related bills.NAAQS refers to the…
Comment
Supporting Clarification for Consumer Regulated Electricity: Reply Comments of Paige Lambermont
Reply Comments of Paige Lambermont of the Competitive Enterprise Institute I appreciate this opportunity to provide feedback on the Secretary of Energy’s advance notice of…
The Washington Times
Record-high 203 million people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend, says National Retail Federation
The Washington Times cited CEI’s expert on The Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis “The good news is that inflation hasn’t deterred people that much,” said…
Comment
How EPA’s Regional Haze Overreach Undermines State Authority and Ignores Emissions Progress
I. Introduction The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is a policy and research organization dedicated to advancing the principles of free markets and limited government.
Blog
Interior secretary announces new pro-energy plan for offshore oil and gas
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently issued a Secretary order to replace the Biden administration’s 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program…
News Release
New Interior Department plan to increase offshore lease sales will help lower prices, increase supply – CEI experts
Yesterday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a Secretary Order that would replace the Biden administration’s 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas…
Comment
Coalition Comment on EPA’s Proposed HFC Technology Transitions Reconsideration Rule
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0005: Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Reconsideration of Certain Regulatory Requirements Promulgated Under the Technology Transitions Provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act…
News Release
New EPA and Corps proposed WOTUS rule is a step in the right direction
Today the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released their proposed revisions to the definition of “waters of the United States.”…
Watts Up With That
Part 2 Hiding the Endangerment Finding’s Systemic Biases – Politico’s Failed Attack on DOE’s Climate Science Report
Part 1 can be found here. Marlo Lewis, Ph.D., Senior Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy, Competitive Enterprise Institute Part 2: Allegations and responses The Politico reporters…
Watts Up With That
Hiding the Endangerment Finding’s Systemic Biases – Politico’s Failed Attack on DOE’s Climate Science Report Part 1
Part 2 can be found here. Marlo Lewis, Ph.D., Senior Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy, Competitive Enterprise Institute Politico recently published an article…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Our nuclear tomorrow with Craig Piercy
In this week’s episode we talk about administrative law judges, AI innovation saving lives, environmental regulation creating more wildfires, and more…
National Review
U.N.’s Global Carbon Tax Should Be a Wake-Up Call to Fight International Climate Extremism
The United States should be an international leader in the fight against energy poverty and for energy freedom. Because, as of now, many countries are using…
Blog
The war on gas stoves is not over – but the Trump administration is fighting back
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it is rescinding federal grants for changes to state and local building codes that would discourage the…
Blog
Report highlights the environmental costs of wind and solar
A Center of the American Experiment report, authored by Sarah Montalbano, explores the environmental costs of wind, solar, and battery storage technologies. These “green”…
Independent Institute
Report Highlights the Environmental Costs of Wind and Solar
A Center of the American Experiment, authored by Sarah Montalbano, explores the environmental costs of wind, solar, and battery storage technologies. These “green” technologies are…
Comment
CEI Comments on EPA Proposed Rule “Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards”
Dear Mr. Stout: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), we appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed…
Blog
House subcommittee to discuss important Clean Air Act bills
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment will be holding a hearing today entitled “From Gridlock to Growth: Permitting Reform Under the…
Center Square Opinion
Op-Ed: Lawmakers deserve credit for recent success against the Green New Deal
Lawmakers took a significant step toward ending the Green New Deal. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), they started to dismantle the radical…
Comment
CEI Comments on the Department of Energy’s Report A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate
Dear Mr. Loucks, On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), we respectfully submit these comments on the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) July 29, 2025,…
Comment
CEI comments on National Academies report on greenhouse gas emissions
Dear Ms. Staudt: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments regarding the National Academies’ fast-track study that “will…
Wall Street Journal
How to Beat the High Cost of Cooling
President Trump doesn’t hide his dislike of federal appliance regulations, from water-stingy shower heads that he says make it difficult “to take care of my…
Blog
Power plant greenhouse gas emissions don’t contribute significantly to ‘dangerous air pollution’
CEI recently submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Proposed Rule to repeal greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for fossil fuel power…
Comment
CEI Comments on Proposed Environmental Protection Agency Rule Repealing 2024 Mercury Provisions for Coal-Fired Power Plants
August 11, 2025 Environmental Protection Agency: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Notice…
Comment
CEI Comments on EPA’s Proposed Repeal of Powerplant Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards
Re: Docket No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2025–0124 Dear Ms. Thompson: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), we respectfully submit these comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s…
Letters
Request for Revision of IRS Notices to Align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Executive Order 14315
Re: Request for Revision of IRS Notices related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Dear Secretary Bessent, We respectfully request that the Internal Revenue…
Comment
CEI and PLF comment on Implementation of Clean Water Act Section 401
Dear Ms. Kasparek: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Pacific Legal Foundation, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on the Environmental…
News Release
EPA proposes rule to overturn regulatory finding justifying major restrictions on consumer choice: CEI analysis
Today, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s proposed rule that would overturn the 2009 endangerment finding. For 16 years, this finding has been…
E&E News
EPA seeks to limit its power to curb climate pollution
“There is a compelling argument that the major questions doctrine by itself would prohibit the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases,” said Daren Bakst, director of…
Blog
Congress should recognize the importance of prescribed burns
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six major air pollutants:…
Blog
Dispelling the desperate myths on IRA subsidies for wind and solar
The budget reconciliation process continues, as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act just passed the Senate and is headed back to the House. …
Blog
Regulatory hurdles could jeopardize growth of nuclear energy
Since the late 1800s, fossil fuels have been the energy source of the highest economic utility in driving innovation and prosperity.
News Release
CEI releases new report detailing how states are improving environmental permitting policies
Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released a new report detailing how states across the country are improving their environmental permitting systems to become…
Study
Laboratories of Bureaucracy
Introduction The United States faces significant challenges in modernizing its infrastructure and meeting evolving energy needs. One of the obstacles is the complex and time-consuming…
Letters
CEI and AEA Letter to the Senate on Protecting IRA Subsidy Reform in Reconciliation
Dear Senator:In 2022, Democrats passed a radical plan to change how Americans use and consume energy. This plan was contained in the Inflation Reduction Act…
News Release
Senate poised to start undoing green subsidies in Big Beautiful Bill
The U.S. Senate will soon start debate on H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The latest version of this reconciliation bill includes many…
Blog
EPA Proposes to Repeal Biden Power Plant Rule
As demand for electricity continues to rise, a pragmatic energy policy wins out. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin just announced the proposed repeal of a Biden…
News Release
Report Urges Congress to End Boondoggle Green Subsidies Now
Congress has a golden opportunity now, during final negotiations over the budget, to wipe out green subsidies passed back in 2022 as part of the…
Blog
New CEI paper: End IRA Subsidies Now
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the flagship climate spending law from the Biden administration. Estimates place its cost between $936 billion and $1.97…
Study
End IRA Subsidies Now
Introduction “The first lesson of economics is scarcity,” wrote economist Thomas Sowell. By contrast, “The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson…
Blog
Are we losing the subsidized clean energy race to China? Let’s hope so
Do we need to retain the Green New Deal-style subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act or risk losing the clean energy race to China? Many…
Blog
45Q tax credit could help kill off power plants and reliable electricity
The 45Q tax credit serves as an incentive for power plants and industrial facilities to invest in carbon capture and sequestration/storage.The Inflation Reduction Act…
Fox News
Trump’s Energy Department is taking back our home appliances from berserk bureaucrats
In quite possibly the sharpest regulatory U-turn thus far in 2025, the Trump Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to roll back home appliance regulations…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: Clean Power Plan repeal, CRA resolutions and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Blog
Trump, Congress overturn California’s gas-car ban
President Trump today signed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval to overturn Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers greenlighting California’s plans…
News Release
EPA’s decision to allow California to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 reversed after President Trump signs CRA resolution
California’s green light from the Environmental Protection Agency to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 was revoked after Congress passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA)…
Blog
New nuclear executive orders come at a time when power demand is rising
On Friday, May 23, President Trump signed four executive orders related to nuclear power. These lay the groundwork for reforming nuclear regulation and enabling nuclear power…
Blog
AI boom power surge: Plants revived, fossil fuels reconsidered
Rising power demand is causing retired power plants to be reopened and repurposed. Power demand in the United States was relatively stagnant for many years,…
News Release
CEI praises EPA Administrator for proposing the repeal of greenhouse gas rule and to amend mercury rule
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin today announced the forthcoming proposed repeal of the Biden era Clean Power Plan 2.0 rule regulating greenhouse gas emissions…
Blog
Senate should reject lobbyist sales pitches for alternative energy subsidies
Lobbyists for the companies hoping to cash in on the many alternative energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are crying foul now…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: Expert testimony, Spanish blackout, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Blog
Eight energy policies that reduce competition and increase energy prices
The US Department of Justice’s Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force was accepting comments from the public in part “seeking information about laws and regulations that…
Blog
Congress needs to do more to address the IRA energy tax credits
Many of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit reforms that exist in the House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act comes…
Blog
Spanish blackout should serve as a warning
If policymakers don’t want Americans to find themselves in the dark, then they should pay attention to the harmful electricity policies in Spain. Spain experienced…
Comment
CEI Comments to Department of Justice Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force
Dear Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force Members: We appreciate this opportunity to provide comments to the task force regarding anticompetitive laws and regulations. There is often…
News Release
CEI leads coalition backing Senate votes to rescind waivers allowing California to reshape car, truck industry
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) today sent a letter to the Senate signed by a coalition of over 50 free market and conservative policy…
Letters
CEI leads coalition letter supporting Senate CRA votes against EPA California waivers
Dear Senator: The House recently passed, in a bipartisan manner, three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions rescinding Biden EPA waivers allowing California to reshape the…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: CRA resolutions, IRA reform, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
News Release
DOE adopts CEI view on appliance water and energy limits
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released new rules on appliance energy and water limits Friday that agreed with the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s (CEI)…
Citation
GOP Ready Rollbacks of Biden’s ‘Efficiency’ Mandates For Home Appliances
MCRTV cited CEI’s expert on home appliances “Responding specifically to Trump’s executive action, Devin Watkins, attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), observed: ‘Federal…
Blog
CEI sends letter to Senate regarding California waiver CRA resolutions
The US Senate has a unique opportunity to overturn what may well be the most egregious case of unlawful bureaucratic overreach of the past 50…
News Release
Trump executive order restores consumer choice for home appliances
In 2018, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) petitioned the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to adopt regulations allowing dishwashers that complete a full cycle…
Blog
Why IRA energy subsidies should be dismantled: A guide
This article is intended to be a useful resource about the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) energy subsidies and is broken into three sections: The first…
Reason
The Case for Eliminating Energy Star
Reason cited CEI’s expert on the EPA A March white paper from the Competitive Enterprise Institute on modernizing the EPA says “green purchasing programs” like Energy…
Blog
House Republican letter urges an end to all IRA handouts via the reconciliation bill
Congressional Republicans were unanimous in their opposition to the Green New Deal when it was introduced in 2019, and for very good reason given that…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: California waivers, IRIS, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
News Release
House moves to stop California ban on gas-powered cars: CEI statement
The House today overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting a Biden-era EPA waiver allowing California to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. By…
Letters
CEI joins ATR in a Call for Repealing Green New Deal Subsidies in Reconciliation
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing in support of repealing the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) green new deal subsidies to pay for tax cuts in…
Blog
President Trump’s three new energy executive orders: A quick overview
On April 8, President Trump signed three new executive orders (EOs) that address the United States’s energy sector. The key themes of the EOs include…
Blog
Congress needs to repeal the Biden EPA and California attack on gas-powered cars
The attack on gas-powered vehicles exists on multiple fronts, including through federal and state regulation.Regarding federal regulation, much of the attention has been focused on…
News Release
Senate votes to repeal Biden rule against water heaters
Today the U.S. Senate voted on a joint resolution to repeal a Biden-era Energy Department rule imposing unwarranted energy efficiency restrictions on consumer water…
Daily Caller
GOP-Led Congress Deals Fatal Blow To Biden’s War On Refrigerators
Daily Caller cited CEI’s expert on energy conservation standards DOE officials said they wanted to impose newer energy conservation standards. The Washington, D.C.-based…
News Release
Congress passes resolution repealing Biden energy rule against freezers, walk-in coolers: CEI statement
Congress successfully passed a resolution repealing a Biden Energy Department rule that would have imposed needless restrictions on walk-in coolers and freezers. CEI energy policy…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: The EPA, WOTUS, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication and…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: An affordable and reliable future with Gabriella Hoffman
In this week’s episode we cover Republicans for the Green New Deal, diminishing returns from industrial policy in China, and the bottleneck…
Blog
Belgium has learned nothing from Germany’s nuclear phaseout
Doel Unit 1 was shut down in February as part of the country’s nuclear phaseout policy. In 2021, more than half of Belgium’s power came from…
Blog
The true cost of the Inflation Reduction Act
The increasingly poorly named Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed by President Biden in 2022, comes with incredible costs. These come from massive spending, like tax credits and…
Staff & Scholars
Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
Paige Lambermont
Research Fellow
- Capitalism and Free Enterprise
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Ben Lieberman
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Consumer Freedom
- Energy
Jacob Tomasulo
Policy Analyst
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment