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
Gas stoves are great
The recent approval of a ballot initiative in Washington state to protect natural gas access for consumers has me ruminating on the gas stove issue. I have…
Blog
Congress needs to undo Biden’s sweeping attack on offshore drilling
Today, President Joe Biden announced that he is blocking more than 625 million acres of US ocean from future offshore drilling. The two…
Blog
Electric grid reliability at elevated risk, new report warns
The North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) released its 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment Tuesday. This report examines the challenges the power grid will face over the …
Search Posts
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Citation
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Op-Eds
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…
Citation
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.
Newsletter
Retail Prices, Utility Politics and Swine Flu
The Maryland legislature bans manufacturers from setting minimum retail prices for their products. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist plays hardball with the state’s public utilities. Doctors…
News Release
Government-Funded Research Unit Destroyed Original Climate Data
Washington, D.C., October 6, 2009―In the wake of a revelation by a key research institution that it destroyed its original climate data, the Competitive Enterprise…
News Release
Unemployment Report, Real Solutions
Today's unemployment report showed the U.S. jobless rate reaching 9.8 percent, the highest since 1983. And although unemployment is referred to as a "lagging indicator"…
National Review
A Century Behind: Our Electricity Regulations Are Stuck in Progressive Era
It's the seemingly intractable problem of modern civilization: Americans need more electricity, they want lower greenhouse-gas emissions, and they want to get rid of ugly…
News Release
Obama Treasury Dept Still Hiding Info on Global Warming ‘Cap-and-Tax’ Costs
Obama Treasury Dept Still Hiding Info on Global Warming ‘Cap-and-Tax’ Costs Admissions of Job Losses & Hundreds of Billions in Cost Insufficient; CEI to…
Washington Times
Solutions: How to Reduce Unemployment
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke recently said the recession is probably over, as third-quarter growth in gross domestic product will likely be positive. But…
Study
The Geopolitics of Climate: Cutting Through the Spin on International Climate Agreements
Full Document Available in PDF With the G20 group in Pittsburgh discussing global warming negotiations at President Obama’s insistence, the public needs to…
Washington Times
The Military-Industrial-Environmental Complex
President Obama, speaking to the United Nations this week, cast climate change unequivocally as a threat to national security. He told the General Assembly,…
Washington Times
Inhofe Pans Obama Climate Speech
Washington Times
Redact and Withhold
Washington Times
Competitive Enterprise Institute Protests World Car-Free Day
Washington Times
Obama to Face Tough Balancing Act in Talks on Climate Change at U.N.
ABC News
A Secret Cap and Trade Tax of $1,761 Per Family?
CBS News
Treasury Docs: Enviro Taxes Could Reach $400 Billion a Year
Politico
Cap and Trade’s Price Tag [Corrrected]
News Release
Breaking News: Treasury Admits Global Warming Cap-and-Trade Costs Could Hit $300 Billion Annually
Global Warming Cap-and-Trade Costs Could Hit $300 Billion Annually, Cost Up to Several GDP Points, US Treasury Admits Treasury Dept Releases Un-redacted Documents Friday…
News Max
Cap-and-Trade’s Cost to Americans: $1,761 per Household
News Release
Global Warming Tax Costs Revealed in FOIA Treasury Dept Documents, CEI Analysis Confirms Massive Tax on Energy
Global Warming Tax Costs Revealed in FOIA Treasury Dept Documents, CEI Analysis Confirms Massive Tax on Energy Cap-and-Trade Admittedly = Mega-Billion Tax, No Matter…
Newsletter
The Costs of Cap and Trade, Deadly Auto Regulations and Rockefeller on Health Care
The U.S. Treasury Department admits that a “cap and trade” system for regulating greenhouse gas emissions could cost every household $1,761 a year. New fuel…
Weekly Standard
Obama Admin Concedes: Cap and Trade Will Raise Your Taxes by 15%
Investors.com
Smoking Papers On Global Warming
News Release
EPA Global Warming Whistleblower Scandal Spurs Activist Campaign
EPA Global Warming Whistleblower Scandal Spurs Activist Campaign Freedom Action Mobilizing Citizen Activists Washington, D.C., September 14, 2009—The Environmental Protection Agency is in an…
CEI Planet
CEI Planet: July – August 2009
The July-August 2009 issue of the CEI Planet features coverage of CEI’s 25th Anniversary Gala, and articles on federal catastrophe insurance and TARP transparency.
Newsletter
Obama on Health Care, Solar Feuding in the Desert and Julia Child’s Legacy
President Obama prepares for a major speech on health care. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. feuds with fellow environmentalists over the creation of a major solar…
Investors.com
‘Racist, Communist’ Green Jobs Czar Van Jones Resigns
Obama’s racist, communist, America-bashing Green Jobs Czar, Van Jones, has resigned after revelations that he was a 9/11 “Truther,” who believed that George Bush…
Newsletter
The Not-So-Smart Grid, European Antitrust and Light Bulb Smuggling
Utilities compete for almost $4 billion of federal stimulus funds earmarked for the creation of an electrical “smart grid.” European regulators may delay the merger…
News Release
Dim Bulb, EU gives $7500 fines for light bulb smuggling
Draconian Measures for European Bulb Ban Washington, DC, September 2, 2009- The European Union has made 100-watt incandescent light bulbs illegal,…
Investors' Business Daily
Trading Jobs for Bugs in Coal Country
Mayflies are, by scientific classification, not long for this world. They belong to the order Ephemeroptera which means, roughly, "short lived, winged creatures." In their…
Forbes
America’s Power System is Powerless
America is a beacon of capitalism, so it can be jarring to discover one of its largest industries is a redoubt of socialism. State governments…
Newsletter
A Doctor Shortage, Cap and Trade in the Senate and TARP Transparency
The American Medical Association lobbies Congress to restrict the number of new doctors in the U.S. Senate sponsors of “cap and trade” global warming legislation…
Newsletter
Cybersecurity, Consumer Snitching and an Insurance Downgrade
A new bill to would give the White House “cybersecurity emergency” powers. Consumer Reports magazine turns a high-performing showerhead over to the EPA for exceeding…
Washington Examiner
Tom Vilsack: Climate change efforts spell opportunity for American agriculture
News Release
EPA May Axe ‘Key’ Internal Review Office After Global Warming Whistleblower Incident
Washington, D.C., August 24, 2009—.Following a whistleblower report that criticized a global warming rule, the Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly considering shutting down the agency…
Detroit News
Transparency Apparently Not on EPA’s Agenda
Newsletter
The Future of Coal, Rose Friedman and Florida Insurance
Environmental activists try to shut down and limit the use of coal-fired power plants. Economist and author Rose Friedman dies at age 98. Florida’s insurance…
Newsletter
Cap and Trade Gets Militant, Google Book Search Queries and the Chevy Volt’s 230 MPG
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) tries to sell cap and trade legislation to his colleagues on national security grounds. Legal scholars question the implications of the…
Products
CEI Planet: May – June 2009
To view this issue of the CEI Planet, please click here to download the PDF file. Below are selected articles…
Newsletter
Chevron in Court, Health Care in Congress and California’s Budget in Crisis
Chevron continues to fight a lawsuit alleging environmental damage done in Ecuador. Republicans go on the offensive against President Obama’s proposed health care plan. Governor…
News Release
CEI Praises California Oil Drilling and No-New-Tax Budget Compromise
CEI Praises California Oil Drilling and No-New-Tax Budget Compromise But State Still In Trouble With Global Warming Law WASHINGTON, July 21, 2009 – Top…
News Release
CEI Injects Suppressed EPA Global Warming Report into White House Science Proceeding
CEI Injects Suppressed EPA Global Warming Report into White House Science Proceeding Requests OSTP to Do More Honest Job…
The Denver Daily News
Ethanol Fueling Debate
Newsletter
Chemical Safety, Global Warming Balance Sheets and Hybrid Smugness
Canadian officials find that the presence of bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic food containers, poses “no health or safety concerns.” The Securities 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
Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Founder; Chairman Emeritus
- Automobiles and Roads
- Aviation
- Business and Government