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

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…

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…
Search Posts
News Release
Ethanol + Wind Power = #Fail
Washington, D.C., October 26, 2010 — Ethanol subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, and, so far, American taxpayers have wasted…
Study
Is Wind the Next Ethanol?
One “Renewable” Energy Source Follows another’s History of Failure…
News Release
Obama’s Truck Regulations Are Another Torpedo To US Economy
Washington, D.C., October 25, 2010 — As part of the Obama Administration’s ill-conceived energy-rationing campaign, today the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to target heavy-duty…
National Review
Obama’s Tax Cut for Rich Oil Companies
National Review
Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Champions Renewable Fuel Standards
National Review
An Appeal to End Ethanol Tariffs, Subsidies
National Review
Biofuel or Bust? Ethanol Subsidies Should be Dropped
The long struggle to make ethanol a viable and relevant auto fuel in America got a boost recently from the Environmental Protection Agency, but allowing…
National Review
Ben Lieberman on consumer costs of regulations
CEI Senior Fellow in Environmental Policy Ben Lieberman explains how new environmental regulations for household appliances will end up costing consumers more money. These increased…
National Review
Browse More Videos Ben Lieberman on Government Regulations
Senior Fellow in Environmental Policy Ben Lieberman discusses the extent of federal regulations in our daily lives.
Kiowa County Signal
CFL bulbs kills U.S. jobs
Kiowa County Signal
Chris Horner on Overestimation of Emissions
CEI Senior Fellow Chris Horner discusses how miscalculated emissions figures were used to…
Kiowa County Signal
Chris Horner on Overestimation of Emissions
CEI Senior Fellow Chris Horner discusses how miscalculated emissions figures were used to justify pollution regulations in…
NCPA
GE Closes Last Incandescent Light Bulb Plant, Jobs Sent to China
State Journal Register
Illinois Must Get Out of Regional Cap-and-Trade
State Journal Register
China Winning Renewable Energy Race
Study
Cap-and-Trade Schemes are Not Markets
Cap-and-trade supporters are trying to get Republican lawmakers on board a new cap-and-trade policy, this time it's "market-based."…
Study
Colorado’s Great Green Deception
If HB 1001Seems too Good to Be True, It’s Because It Is…
Kiowa County Signal
The Lights Go Out on 200 Jobs and an Era
Newsletter
Stimulus, Tax Reform, and Incandescent Light Bulbs
Hans Bader points out that, according to the CBO, the stimulus will shrink the economy "in the long run." Chris Horner explains why this new…
Newsletter
Bailouts, Wind Energy, and Credit Card Regulation
Hans Bader argues that the new bailout makes responsible citizens "Suckers." Myron Ebell thinks it is doubtful that wind farms will survive Hurricane Earl. John…
Kiowa County Signal
Christie’s at Sea With That Windmill Scheme
Kiowa County Signal
Chris Horner discusses new car stickers
Senior Fellow Chris Horner discusses the government's proposal to grade cars and have a sticker displaying the grade.
Kiowa County Signal
No More Ethanol for America, Please
In “Ethanol for America,” Jim Nussle accuses opponents of subsidized ethanol of misleading the public, while trumpeting ethanol’s alleged success story. As is the case…
Kiowa County Signal
China, Economic Growth, and “Green Jobs”
The news about China overtaking Japan as the world’s second-largest economy is actually quite relevant to the US climate and energy policy debate, which…
Kiowa County Signal
Myron Ebell Debates Whether the Government Should Subsidize Energy
CEI Director of Energy Policy Myron Ebell comments on the move for the government to pick winners and losers in the energy industry.
Newsletter
Online Gambling, Offshore Drilling and the Complexity of Obamacare
The House Financial Services Committee passes the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. Today the House of Representatives will vote on an energy…
News Release
House to Vote on Oil Spill Bill
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2010—Today the House of Representatives will vote on an energy bill to address BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The bill,…
News Release
Senate Plan to Prevent Oil Spill Should Eliminate Government Cap on Liability
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2010—The Senate is preparing to vote next week on a bill aimed at preventing future BP-style oil spills—a plan that could…
News Release
EPA Refuses to Reconsider Harmful Energy Regulations
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2010 – The EPA Thursday rejected petitions to reconsider the agency’s move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as a “public endangerment”…
Study
Who Should Pay for the Gulf Oil Spill?
Liability and Incentive Issues Raised by the Deepwater Horizon Incident…
Kiowa County Signal
Chris Horner on the Politics of Cap and Trade
CEI Senior Fellow Chris Horner debates the politics and economics of a cap and trade scheme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Washington Post
BG&E’s Smart Grid Program Faces another Regulatory Hurdle
Newsletter
Financial Regulation, the Gulf Oil Spill, and Privacy on Facebook
Congress passes the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill. The New York Times chronicles the economic fallout from the BP oil spill. Pundits argue that Facebook is…
Newsletter
Law School, Air Conditioning and Media Criticism
Elizabeth Wurtzel, of the Brennan Center for Justice, makes the case for abolishing the bar exam for law students. Author Stan Cox argues against the…
Denver Daily News
Markets Should Drive Xcel, Not Social Values
Xcel Energy is getting a lot of grief over its new “tiered” rate increase Ń a.k.a., the air-conditioner tax Ń but the criticism is…
Newsletter
EPA’s Gangster Style, LibertyWeek Turns 100 and Comparing BP to Enron
The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gain the auto industry’s support for new fuel economy standards. The LibertyWeek podcast records…
Baltimore Sun
Maryland’s Smart Grid Fiasco
Last month, the Public Service Commission rejected Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.'s "smart grid" proposal. From start to finish, the whole affair demonstrated everything that…
Newsletter
Regulating Strippers, Blowout Prevention and Kagan’s Hearings
Missouri enacts “anti-stripper” legislation placing new restrictions on adult entertainment establishments. The House of Representatives holds a hearing on the Blowout Prevention Act. Elena Kagan’s…
Newsletter
A Supreme Court Win, a New Push for Free Trade and the Pentagon’s Biofuels Boondoggle
CEI scores a Supreme Court victory in the case of Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. President Obama is getting ready to…
Newsletter
Climate Skeptics, The Case Against Cap and Trade and Oil Spill Red Tape
The National Academy of Sciences recently published a report attacking the credentials of climate change skeptics. The Gulf oil spill has…
Newsletter
Elena Kagan, Five Years of Kelo and Offshore Oil Drilling
More details about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan come to light. Today is the 5-year anniversary of the landmark property rights decision in the case…
Baltimore Sun
Obama Uses Oil Spill to Push Failed Energy Policies
In his speech, President Obama used the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to push his failed energy policies, such as…
Newsletter
Online Gambling, Orcs on Wall Street and the Chimera of Green Jobs
Congress continues to discuss a plan that would legalize online gambling in all fifty states. The government is on the prowl…
Baltimore Sun
Obama’s Actions Prevent Timely Clean-Up By U.S. Allies
Crucial offers to help clean up BP’s oil spill “have come from Belgian, Dutch, and Norwegian firms that … possess some of the world’s most…
Baltimore Sun
Obama Blocks Louisiana, Foreign Allies from Oil Spill Clean-Up
The Obama Administration recently used red tape to force Louisiana to stop using 16 barges that were cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico…
Baltimore Sun
Chris Horner on Obama Energy Policy
CEI's Senior Fellow Chris Horner explains the problems with President Obama's energy policies.
Newsletter
EPA Disapproval, Oil Spill Politics and Ethanol Technology
Last week, the Senate rejected Lisa Murkowski’s resolution of disapproval against the EPA. President Obama has refused offers from several European countries to help clean…
Newsletter
Nuclear Power, AmeriCorps Fraud, and Climate Change ‘Denial’
The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future has drawn public ire for their decisions regarding nuclear power. President Obama is…
Baltimore Sun
Most Green Jobs Went to Foreign Firms (Letter to the Editor)
It is incredible that the federal government spent billions of dollars on so-called "green jobs" without having any definition of what a green…
Baltimore Sun
The Obama Window
Oh, dear. Politico reports that the president will make another push for his central planning repackaged as a “green economy” in a national address…
Baltimore Sun
Obama Refuses to Waive Law to Allow Foreign Help With Oil Spill
Crucial offers to help clean up BP’s oil spill “have come from Belgian, Dutch, and Norwegian firms that . . . possess some of…
Baltimore Sun
Action Needed Now to Stop EPA Power Grab
I wrote this morning in the American Spectator about how tight the vote is on Senator Murkowski’s bid to stop the…
Baltimore Sun
America’s Nuclear Future Must Involve the Public
Things have not looked so good for nuclear power since the dawn of the Atomic Age. The public is more accepting of the potential…
Baltimore Sun
BP’s Disturbingly Close Ties to Obama Administration
Columnist Tim Carney notes that BP, responsible for the massive oil spill, is “a close friend of big government whenever it serves the company’s…
Newsletter
Ethanol, Amtrak and Auto Insurance
New global warming legislation contains subsidies for ethanol production. Amtrak, which loses money annually, is now embroiled in legal troubles. State governments take an increasingly…
Newsletter
Internet Gambling, Carbon Regulations and FDA’s Energy Drink Crackdown
Restrictions on Internet gambling go into effect this week. The Senate will soon vote on Lisa Murkowski’s resolution to stop the EPA from regulating carbon…
Study
Overturning EPA’s Endangerment Finding Is a Constitutional Imperative
By Marlo Lewis and Former Gov. George Allen…
Newsletter
The Gulf Oil Spill, GM’s Bailout Troubles and the Costs of CO2 Regulation
Environmentalists call for a stop to offshore drilling in reaction to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. CEI files a complaint against General Motors with…
Baltimore Sun
Chris Horner on the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
CEI Senior Fellow Chris Horner debates the impact of media coverage of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused by an explosion at BP's Deepwater…
CEI Planet
CEI Planet: March – April 2010
To view this issue of the CEI Planet, please click here to download the PDF file. Below are selected articles from the March-April…
Newsletter
Anti-Immigration Backlash, Renewable Energy and Chris Horner’s “Power Grab”
California lawmakers call for economic sanctions against Arizona in retaliation for its new immigration law Documents show that Assistant Secretary of Energy Cathy Zoi has…
News Release
National Security Risk Posed by Climate Change Policy, New Report Finds
Climate change alarmists have tried marketing their “fix-it” solutions to the public in several ways. Their latest tactic? Convincing people on the center-right that climate…
Newsletter
The Cost of Government, Carbon Taxes and Sugar Subsidies
Today is Tax Day, the day when Americans think most about how much the government is costing them. James Hansen writes in The Huffington Post,…
Newsletter
Household Chemicals, Fuel Efficiency, and “The Story of Stuff”
The website KeepitOrganic.org, which warns people about the dangers of using plastic products containing bisphenol A (BPA), is actually owned and operated by the Glass…
Newsletter
Fuel Efficiency, Imports, and H1N1
The Obama Administration plans to increase fuel efficiency standards. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative releases the 2010 National Trade Estimate report. The Centers…
AOL News
The Deadly Price of the Auto Mileage Mandate
The Obama administration just announced an increase in fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, ostensibly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global…
News Release
EPA Takes On New Power Over Transportation, CO2 Regulation
EPA Announces Deadly CAFE Regs, CO2 Mandates EPA Takes On New Power Over Transportation, CO2 Regulation Washington, D.C., April 1, 2010 – The Environmental…
News Release
White House Sleight of Hand on Oil Drilling
The White House announcement today that limited areas off the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Alaska will be open to oil and gas…
News Release
EPA to Seize New Powers, Impose Global Warming Regs on U.S. Economy
EPA to Seize New Powers, Impose Global Warming Regs on U.S. Economy CEI Experts Available for Comment Washington, D.C., March 30, 2010 – The…
The Hindu
Sydney Dims Lights for Earth Hour
Montreal Gazette
Earth Hour is a Joke
National Post
Keep Your Lights on
National Post
Keep Your Lights on
Youtube
Earth Hour’s Purpose Not About Symbolism
ABC News 10
Earth Hour: Millions Plan to Flip Switch Saturday
Brisbane Times
Hearts Beat Faster in Blackout
Global Post
On Today’s Human Achievement Hour Thing
Global Post
Does Earth Hour Send the Wrong Message?
Providence Journal
RI interfaith group: Shut lights an hour to celebrate Earth
Winnipeg Free Press
Earth Hour Verging on Occult
American Thinker
Turn on your lights and celebrate ‘Human Achievement Hour’
USA Today
Will you Turn off the Lights for Earth Hour? Millions Plan to Flip Switch Saturday
Conservative
Human Achievement Hour
Newsletter
Ethanol, Human Achievement, and Technology
The Green campaign for the development of corn ethanol may be increasing greenhouse gas emissions. On March 27, people all over the world will turn…
Conservative
The Wind-Energy Cover-Up
Barack Obama promised many things on his way into office. Key among these was transparency and a vow to banish lobbyists from insider roles…
CEI Planet
CEI Planet: January – February 2010
To view this issue of the CEI Planet, please click here to download the PDF file. Below are selected articles from the January-February 2010 issue: …
News Release
BP America, Conoco Phillips, and Caterpillar Drop Out of the U. S. Climate Action Partnership
Statement by Myron Ebell, Director of Energy and Global Warming Policy for the Competitive Enterprise Institute on BP America, Conoco Phillips,…
News Release
New Lawsuit, Petition Challenge EPA Global Warming Regulations
New Lawsuit, Petition Challenge EPA Global Warming Regulations After Lead Global Warming Scientist Admits Data Sloppiness, No Warming CEI, Allies Urge Reconsideration of Economy-Crushing…
News Release
CEI, Science Groups Petition EPA to Reconsider Increasingly Dubious Global Warming “Endangerment” Finding
Regulation Would Bring Economy-Crushing Regulations Based on Shoddy Science Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2009 – Two science groups joined with the Competitive Enterprise Institute on…
News Release
CEI Will File Suit to Block EPA Endangerment Finding
Washington, DC, Dec. 7, 2009—The Environmental Protection Agency today finalized its finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare and therefore must…
News Release
Millions of Jobs Threatened by EPA Petition
Millions of Jobs Threatened by EPA Petition Environmental Groups Call Obama Administration’s Bluff On Global Warming Washington, DC, December 2, 2009- Environmental pressure…
News Release
CEI Demands EPA Stop Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases in Wake of Climategate Fraud
CEI Demands EPA Stop Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases in Wake of Climategate Fraud EPA Poised to Issue Economy-Killing Energy Regulations‘ Washington,…
News Release
Boxer Rams Economy-Killing Energy-Rationing Bill through EPW Committee
Boxer Rams Economy-Killing Energy-Rationing Bill through EPW Committee Tactics Doom Cap and Trade in Senate Washington, D.C., November 5, 2009— Senate Environment…
Newsletter
TV Ban, Flu Stats and Election Fever
California regulators move to ban plasma screen TVs. Media reports offer tips for avoiding exposure to the H1N1 strain of influenza. Pundits speculate on whether…
Letters
Statement of Marlo Lewis on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
Full Testimony Available in PDF Increasingly, proponents of cap-and-trade legislation argue that climate change is a major threat to U.S.
Letters
Iain Murray’s Testimony at the Legislative Hearing on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
Murray will testify in the Senate today, Oct. 29th, at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
News Release
Senate Weighs Global Warming Energy Tax Bill in Thursday Hearing, CEI Expert to Testify on Disastrous Tax Scheme in Europe
Senate Weighs Global Warming Energy Tax Bill in Thursday Hearing, CEI Expert to Testify on Disastrous Tax Scheme in Europe Multi-Billion Dollar…
Newsletter
Nuclear Power, Lieberman on Health Care and Building Cleantech
Democrats consider adding incentives for new nuclear power facilities to their existing cap and trade bill. Sen. Joe Lieberman’s defection from the Democratic caucus on…
Newsletter
Pay Cuts for Wall Street, Required Window Glazing and the New Public Option
The White House “pay czar” plans to cut paychecks for top bank executives by 50%. Environmental regulators in California move to require all cars sold…
Newsletter
Big Screen Ban, U.S. Chamber Politics and Silencing Science
California poised to ban the sale of big-screen televisions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches a new initiative to defend free enterprise and create jobs.
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