Energy and Environment
Advance freedom and prosperity by unleashing free enterprise, protecting America's energy interests, and advancing free global energy markets. Learn More... Statement of Purpose Demand is increasing faster than supplies while much of the world’s oil is delivered in a restrictive market dominated by unstable or hostile nations. Meanwhile, many Americans harbor misunderstandings and myths about energy, the environment, and market forces. They want low prices and plentiful supply, but resist steps that must be taken to achieve these goals. They want to protect the environment but most plans have huge costs and questionable benefits. This confusion leads Congress to enact conflicting policies that harm the nation’s ability to meet its energy needs. Sound policies must enable America to obtain supplies from a wide range of sources in a way that is best for the economy and also addresses homeland and national security considerations.

U.S. energy policy should be based on the creativity of free enterprise. Congress and the Administration should rely on the private sector’s research and development capabilities to deliver traditional supplies and viable new energy sources rather than mandates, regulations, subsidies, and directed research. All sources of domestic energy should be made available and artificial constraints on infrastructure, including costly environmental regulations, removed. Such steps will unshackle delivery of supplies and allow key sources like nuclear energy to achieve their potential. Efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil or carbon altogether must be grounded in policies that are best for the economy by limiting or removing regulatory and tax barriers that impede private-sector innovation. Internationally, U.S. policy should advance free energy markets by sustaining access to the global marketplace using all instruments of national power. Policies should thwart the capacity of coercive regimes to employ energy supplies as an economic weapon. Americans understand that freedom, opportunity and quality of life suffer when abundant, affordable energy supplies are threatened, not just at home, but worldwide.

Boxer-Kerry Cap-and-Trade Bill's Nuclear Provision Won't Fuel a Nuclear Revival

November 3, 2009

America needs a clean, safe, and sustainable energy source. Nuclear power could be part of the solution -- with the right set of free-market reforms. Congress, the nuclear industry, and many Americans agree that reform of U.S. nuclear policies is necessary, but cannot agree on what those reforms should look like. The nuclear provision in the Senate's new Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act is a nice nod to nuclear power, but leaves the waters muddied.

Senate's Byrd-Hagel Resolution Should Guide Global Warming Discussion in Copenhagen

November 3, 2009

The Administration should follow the Byrd-Hagel Resolution in Copenhagen and steer clear of any agreement that violates its provisions.

Copenhagen Consequences: What You Need To Know

November 2, 2009

In 1997 the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Byrd-Hagel Resolution which warned President Clinton not to enter into any global warming treaty that leaves out developing nations or hurts the American economy. This is still U.S. policy today and should serve as the overarching guidelines for the December global warming conference in Copenhagen.

National Security: Not a Good Argument for Global Warming Legislation

October 28, 2009

The Clean Energy Jobs and America Power Act (S. 1733) has engendered tremendous controversy. Concerns abound about the legislation's adverse economic consequences, and there is skepticism of its affects on world climate trends. I will focus my analysis and observations on the national security implications of attempting to address climate change through a framework established by national legislation.

Proposed Global Warming Bills and Regulations Will Do More Harm Than Good

October 23, 2009

The Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Boxer bills, like the proposed regulations, are an expensive and ineffective response to the overstated threat of global warming.

Questionnaire May Shed Long-Overdue Light on Cap-and-Trade Legislation

October 23, 2009

Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey did a little digging last week. It was the kind of thoughtful investigative work our lawmakers should do more often.

Congress' Light Bulb Law: Not So Bright

October 20, 2009

Thank goodness I'm not imagining it. Others also have big problems with the new-fangled light bulbs Congress is forcing on us.

The Business of Global Warming

October 14, 2009

Soon, fast-talking Senators will take up the Kerry-Boxer bill to supposedly limit global warming. Meanwhile, corporate America is doing a global warming kabuki dance.

Drill, Comrade Drill?

September 2, 2009

If we won't drill into the vast energy reserves just off our shores, others will.

Pumping to perdition

August 31, 2009

Labor Day signals the end of summer-vacation season. Will this summer also turn out to be the last cheap one for gasoline? The Obama administration and Congress certainly seem intent on making it so.

An Inconvenient Tariff

July 30, 2009

The current cap-and-trade debate is generating a lot of noise in the United States. Much of that noise is coming from the halls of Congress, where phone lines are ringing off the hook from citizens expressing their support, but mostly expressing their disapproval, of the U.S. Clean Energy and Security Act passed in the House of Representatives on June 26.

Two More Inconvenient Voices at the EPA

11/10/2009

In the alleged new era of transparency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making quite a name for itself as being the agency of opacity. The latest is the EPA’s suppression of a video entitled, “The Huge Mistake” by Laurie Williams and Allan Zabel, two lawyers currently working at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –   Read More...

If Cap and Trade Doesn’t Work, Obama will Make it Work

11/10/2009

All the talk in Washington is surrounding a government health insurance plan, but there’s a little discussed insurance plan in the Boxer-Kerry cap and trade bill that’s worth some attention. The Senate version of the cap and trade bill includes a section that grants the President the authority to “direct relevant federal agencies” to impose   Read More...

Video: The Cap and Trade YouTube the Obama Admin. Does Not Want You To See

11/10/2009

The New York Times reports: The Environmental Protection Agency has directed two of its lawyers to makes changes to a YouTube video they posted that is critical of the Obama administration’s climate change policy. The EPA lawyers did take their video down. But not before others reposted it. Watch: You can read an op-ed the lawyers wrote for   Read More...

“War on Climate Change” Will Not Advance Security or Freedom

11/09/2009

In his speech to the UN on climate change, President Obama warned that the “security and stability of each nation and all peoples—our prosperity, our health, our safety—are in jeopardy” and that “we must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change.” This message of fighting climate   Read More...

Green Jobs? What Green Jobs?

11/09/2009

Proponents of the $787 billion economic stimulus package said it would be quick and effective. It’s turning out to be neither. And the transformation to a new green revolution is off to a shaky start. One of the largest chunks of money from the federal spending is the $25 billion allocated for energy-efficiency. The Washington Post’s   Read More...

Alaskan Drilling: Small Area, Big Potential

July 30, 2008
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  • Alaskan Drilling: Small Area, Big Potential
  • U.S. a Nonstarter in Nuclear Power
  • Chilling Growth to Counter Global Warming
  • Nuclear power's safety by the numbers
  • Paying for the Energy Bill

Twelve Principles to Guide U.S. Energy Policy


Sound national energy policies must enable America to obtain energy supplies from a wide range of sources in a way that is best for the economy and at the same time addresses homeland and national security considerations. An abundant, diverse energy supply is central to America's freedom and prosperity. The guiding principles for an energy strategy that advances freedom and prosperity should emphasize three themes: 1. Unleashing free enterprise, 2. Protecting America's energy interests, and 3. Advancing free global energy markets. Learn More...

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Heritage's Center for Data Analysis found that the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill would have devastating effects on our economy. By 2035, it would result in 2.5 million jobs lost, a 90 percent increase in electricity prices, and cost the average family of four an additional $4,609 per year--and these are just a few examples of what we can look forward to if this 1,427-page bill is signed into law.

To read the full CDA report, click here.

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Heritage Experts on Energy and Environment

Media Information Line: (202) 675-1761

William

William W. Beach

Director , Center for Data Analysis

Ariel

Ariel Cohen Ph.D.

Senior Research Fellow , The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies

Alison

Alison Acosta Fraser

Director , Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies

David

David Kreutzer Ph.D.

Senior Policy Analyst in Energy Economics and Climate Change , Center for Data Analysis

Ben

Ben Lieberman

Senior Policy Analyst, Energy and Environment , Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies

Jack

Jack Spencer

Research Fellow , Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies