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
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.
Search Posts
Blog
SOTU Response: Fisking O’s Climate Spiel
PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Look, if anybody still wants to dispute the science around climate change, have at it. You’ll be pretty lonely, because you’ll be debating…
News Release
CEI Takes the EPA’s Clean Power Plan to Court to Protect State Rights
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) today sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its Clean Power Plan in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
Coal Blog
EPA’s Clean Power Plan Does Not Deserve Judicial Respect
On August 3rd, President Obama announced his administration’s signature global warming policy, known as the Clean Power Plan. In the simplest of terms, the Clean…
Watchdog.org
Solyndra times five: What’s up with the $2.65 billion in federal loans to Abengoa?
Watchdog.org discusses with William Yeatman the potential for energy giant Abengo to go bankrupt, and the impact of this on taxpayers. “Potentially, we’re looking at…
Washington Free Beacon
Green Energy Investors Look to Cash in on Paris Talks
The Washington Free Beacon reports on business investors involvment in green energy and quotes William Yeatman's thoughts on the issue. William Yeatman, an energy…
Voice of America
Carbon Taxes, Cap-and-Trade Getting Another Look in US
Voice of America reports on the carbon tax and speaks with Marlo Lewis on the effect such a tax would have. Regardless of…
Blog
Fracking: The Gift Keeps Giving
“U.S. proved crude oil reserves hit levels not seen since 1972, surpassing 39 billion barrels in 2014, according to newly released federal data,” Michael Bastasch…
Blog
Who’s Playing Politics on the Keystone XL Pipeline?
“The White House on Tuesday said President Obama had no intention of bowing to a request from the company behind the Keystone XL oil pipeline…
Daily Caller
Inside The Supreme Court Case That Could Change How America Gets Its Power
The Daily Caller interviews William Yeatman on the Supreme Court case which is determining the legality of a policy that promotes "demand-side management" of green energy services.
Daily Signal
Solyndra Redux: Another Green Company May Lose Taxpayers Millions
The Daily Signal references CEI's expert William Yeatman for more information about the threat of renewable energy companies when paid through government subsidies.
Blog
“Losing Our Minds” over Green Energy
Eco-theocracy has swept America and Europe, resulting in governments devoting vast sums to build their Green Temples where “renewable energy” and “recycled materials” can be…
California Watchdog.org
SunEdison: A cloudy Picture For Another Renewable Energy Compnay
Californina Watchdog.org cites CEI's expert William Yeatman on government stimulus dollars spent in aid of renewable energy companies. “Government has no business picking winners and…
Blog
Reasons for Global Warming Skepticism
Democrats have developed a cottage industry in ridiculing and condemning Republicans as Luddites. How can any “reasonable” person deny that increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the…
Blog
Clean Energy Incentive Program: Why It Makes EPA’s Power Plant Rule Even More Unlawful
EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), which imposes carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rate targets and tonnage caps on state electric power sectors, is unlawful in at…
Blog
Is President Obama’s Energy Wish Coming True?
In a January 17, 2008, interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, then-Senator Obama said that “electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket” under his plan to…
Blog
Party Bias in EPA’s Power Plant Rule?
What’s the main difference between EPA’s final rule to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from state electric-power sectors—the so-called Clean Power Plan (CPP), released August 3—and…
Blog
EPA’s Proposed and Final “Clean Power” Plan: Which Is Worse?
“Climate Rule Worse than We Thought,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) warned today in an email alert about EPA’s so-called Clean Power Plan (CPP). He explains:…
Blog
A Primer on Expected EPA Climate Rules
In 2010, during the 111th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shelved a cap-and-trade bill because too many Democrats opposed the bill during caucus meetings. And during…
The Washington Free Beacon
Clinton Climate Plan Winners Include Supporters’ Clients, Employers
The Washington Free Beacon cites CEI`s William Yeatman on Clinton’s plan to dramatically boost U.S. solar power production: John Podesta, the center’s founder,…
Washington Examiner
Can this businessman’s green turn GOP green?
The Washington Examiner cites CEI`s Myron Ebell on Jay Faison`s donation to super PAC for a non-binding amendment affirming climate change as real and primarily…
Blog
Vatican Downplays Political Involvement in Climate Debate While Joining Forces with Radical Leftist Naomi Klein
Kathryn Jean Lopez reports on NRO’s The Corner that Cardinal Peter Turkson downplayed the political intentions of Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si’, when he spoke to…
Blog
Are There Broader Implications of the Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling?
“In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s mercury and air toxics standards, charging that the administration failed to adequately consider…
The Freeman
The Poor Need Affordable Energy
Affordable energy is fundamental to what economist Deirdre McCloskey calls the “Great Fact” of the explosion of human welfare. It remains central to the…
News Release
CEI’s William Yeatman on the Murray Energy Challenge to the Clean Power Plan
Today the oral argument in the Murray Energy case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took place before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
Blog
Yes, and Water Can Run Uphill!
A recent Washington Post story by Joby Warrick says much about the credulity of the media. The story extols the great gains in wind…
Blog
There Are No “Neutral Taxes” in Politics
Those favoring larger government are finding it harder to finance them by raising taxes. Proponents have sought to reduce opposition by claiming that they’re not…
Blog
Results of “Cash for Appliances”
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly called "the stimulus"), a $300 million program to subsidize consumer purchases of energy-efficient appliances called…
National Review
Dodd-Frank Will Cripple American Energy
The two recent federal court decisions on Obamacare subsidies — one for, one against — prompted fevered reactions and discussion. By contrast, two recent rulings…
Study
Why British Columbia’s Carbon Tax Is Not Applicable to America
A carbon tax does not boost growth. It does not lower the tax burden, but merely shifts it around—and can even open the door to…
Study
EPA’s Illegitimate Climate Rule
Full Document Available in PDF On June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule under the Clean Air…
Blog
America’s Energy Advantage Dodges the Question
America’s Energy Advantage has responded to my July 1 post criticizing its stance on the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. That bill would liberalize…
Blog
AEA’s Unprincipled Stand
Last Thursday the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act with a bipartisan vote of 266-150. The bill orders the…
Blog
Separation of Powers Survived Today by a One-Vote Margin
My colleagues over at GlobalWarming.org are already mulling over what today’s ruling in UARG v. EPA means for the future of American industry and energy production, but there’s…
Products
Xcel Energy seeks $138 million electric rate increase
If approved by the PUC, typical residential rates would increase by $3.96 a month starting in 2015. An additional increase in 2016 and 2017, in…
Products
Political Spotlight Returns to Energy Panel This Week with Votes on FERC Nominees, KXL Pipeline
Adding to the mix is Competitive Enterprise Institute, which took part in attacking Binz last year before he pulled his name for the nomination to…
National Review
The Hard Sell On Climate Change; Media Outlets Continue To Push A Crisis Scenario, And The Public Isn’t Buying
More and more people in the middle of America — both geographically and culturally — have come to believe either that global warming is…
The Hill
Experts Debate Government Role In Alternate Fuels
Alternative fuel vehicles could improve the United States’ energy security and protect it from volatility in the oil market. But Myron Ebell, director of…
Newsmax
Climate Change Remains Unsettled, Say 31,072 Scientists
One more fallacy that the climate-change movement doesn't like to remember is the infamous "hockey stick" predictor, said Christopher Horner, a senior fellow at…
Forbes
President Obama’s Global Warming Calculated Deception Means Democrats Have Abandoned Working People
In light of the incontestable real climate science discussed above, the Obama Administration’s National Climate Assessment released last week can only be considered an exercise…
News Release
CEI Submits Comments on EPA’s “Carbon Pollution Standards”
WASHINGTON, May 12 – Competitive Enterprise Institute senior fellows Marlo Lewis and William Yeatman submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency opposing the EPA’s “Carbon Pollution…
News Release
CEI Sues EPA Over Stonewalling Records Request
WASHINGTON, April 9 – The Competitive Enterprise Institute filed a lawsuit today against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compel the agency to produce text…
News Release
Wind Energy Boondoggle Gets Another Shot at Tax Subsidy
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee scheduled a mark-up of legislation to extend tax credits for certain special interests, including the wind energy…
Comment
Free Market Organizations’ Letter to Office of Management and Budget on Social Cost of Carbon
CEI and Freedom Action, along with members of the Cooler Heads Coalition, on February 26, 2014 submitted a public comment to the Office of Management…
National Journal
When Conservatism Collides With America’s Oil Boom
Even the most committed free-marketers realize Washington will not look on this debate lightly. Old memories die hard, and politicians of all parties are also…
The Hill
House Looks at ‘Sue and Settle’
Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has scheduled floor action this week on H.R. 2279, the Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations (REDO) Act. ‘Redo’ is…
National Review
Maryland’s Low-Energy Chill
The increased cost of energy isn’t just a side effect of Maryland’s environmental agenda; for radical green policymakers, it’s the point, explains Myron Ebell, the…
Master Resource
Supreme Court Global Warming Case: What Legislative History Reveals about Congressional Intent
“The EPA acknowledges that the Timing Rule produces ‘absurd results’ that contravene congressional intent…. The Timing Rule clearly exceeds any discernible congressional intent…
Daily Caller
Podesta’s White House return means a more aggressive green agenda
“Since the Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 elections, he has criticized the Obama White House for wasting time on legislation that…
Daily Caller
Children of the corn subsidies
The Competitive Enterprise Institute and Taxpayers for Common Sense support the Feinstein-Coburn Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2013.
Politico
EPA proposal could shift war on renewable fuels
Marlo Lewis of the Competitive Enterprise Institute called the program a “Soviet-style production quota system.”…
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