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
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:…
Search Posts
Real Clear Investigations
Overnight Success: Biden’s Climate Splurge Gives Billions to Nonprofit Newbie
Real Clear Investigations cited CEI’s expert on Biden’s Climate Splurge Daren Bakst, director of the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment and a…
News Release
Disappointing: Supreme Court takes a pass on Biden climate rule for now
The Supreme Court for now declined to block a Biden administration rule that would impose harsh emissions rules on power plants. CEI energy policy expert…
Econlib
Acemoglu and Robinson Basically Ignored Adam Smith
Econlib cited CEI experts on economist article Acemoglu and Robinson do discuss recent empirical research by economic historians. The book is compelling and highly readable…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: Nuclear Supreme Court case, the ADVANCE Act, 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 special…
Blog
Nuclear sites ripe for development
A new study commissioned by the Department of Energy shows the potential for siting new nuclear reactors at existing and recently retired nuclear power plant sites across…
Blog
Germany is smug about its energy errors
A tweet last week from the German Foreign Office doubled down on the country’s failing approach to energy. Germany decided to shut down its 17 nuclear…
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