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.

Poznan Conference: America Should Take Notice as Europe Backs Away from Costly Global Warming Measures

December 11, 2008

A global warming conference is currently underway in Poznan, Poland, with representatives from 190 countries debating a new treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. In these uncertain economic times, the last thing America and the world needs is to extend Kyoto’s flawed approach.

Making Domestic Energy Affordable: A Memo to President-elect Obama

December 8, 2008

President-elect Obama, throughout the campaign, you pledged to find ways to provide relief for the rising energy prices that affect millions of American households and businesses. This was a leading issue for voters, especially during the summer when gasoline exceeded $4.00 a gallon.

The True Costs of EPA Global Warming Regulation

November 24, 2008

The EPA's Clean Air Act is ill suited to address global warming, which would almost certainly unleash a costly and impractical regulatory scheme that would ensnare all manner of vehicles as well as a million or more businesses, buildings, and farms. Heritage's economic analysis estimates a nearly $7 trillion cumulative decline in GDP by 2029 from such regulations, and up to 3 million lost manufacturing jobs.

Omnibus Lands Bill Restricts Energy Exploration

November 14, 2008

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 would result in a huge expansion in ownership of land in the United States. This would restrict access to energy and limit economic opportunity at a time when the nation should be increasing domestic supply.

The Global Response to a Terror-Generated Energy Crisis

November 10, 2008

In June 2008, The Heritage Foundation invited energy scholars and policy experts to participate in a computer simulation and gaming exercise assessing the economic effects of a global petroleum energy crisis. This exercise suggests reliance on market forces and coordinated security activities did much to help restore the confidence of markets and consumers.

Nuclear Industry Growing Without Federal Handouts

December 22, 2008

Seems like the only way to get a business going (or keep it going) today is to get help from Washington. That is, unless you're in the nuclear business. While other industries are begging for taxpayer dollars, the nuclear industry is expanding at an impressive pace — without federal subsidies.

Arctic security heats up

November 6, 2008

By many accounts, the sea ice that covers much of the earth’s Arctic region is melting. The size — that is, the extent — and thickness of the Arctic ice floes are diminishing, following a three-decade trend and brushing up against last year’s historic lows.

Slump at the Pump no Reason for Complacency

October 29, 2008

Seeing a sharp drop in gasoline prices -- over a dollar per gallon off summer highs -- is one rare piece of good news these days for consumers. But now is not the time to hit the brakes and rest easy, because Washington still needs to do some things to ensure more affordable pump prices.

Hot air about wind power

October 27, 2008

The visuals are terrific. Imagine the Empire State Building with a windmill on top rather than King Kong. That's how the New York Post depicted Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest idea. Another illustrator adorned the Brooklyn Bridge with windmills atop its towers.

California drilling

October 14, 2008

When it comes to energy, we're supposed to pick between a clean environment and affordable fuel. But what if we could have both?

Bringing Alaskan Energy To The White House Race

October 6, 2008

It’s understandable that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin emphasized energy issues during the vice-presidential debate. Her state is sitting on a lot of it — potentially 30 billion barrels.

Another Transition: EU Presidency Changes Hands

01/05/2009

With the New Year dawning across Europe, already several crises are competing for headlines. Buried somewhere in the news, you might have read that the United States is not the only international actor facing a transition of power–change is afoot in the European Union as well. From the conflict in Gaza to the ongoing global   Read More...

Caulking Our Way to Economic Prosperity

01/05/2009

The Los Angeles Times has a brain dead article out today explaining Why Obama’s green jobs plan might work. It contains all the usual leftist green collar job lies and this little gem from green collar jobs activist Van Jones: “You can employ a lot of people very quickly with off-the-shelf technology like caulk guns,” said   Read More...

The Left’s Energy Efficiency Gamble

12/29/2008

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Glenn English and Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperative CEO Jackson Reasor write in the Washington Post: In the past five years, utility bills have risen 30 percent, largely because of the rising cost of fuel, mainly coal and natural gas. The country’s leading consumer organizations, including the   Read More...

Does Nuclear Energy Need More Loan Guarantees?

12/18/2008

Apparently not: Electricite de France SA and Constellation Energy Group say they want Exelon to join their UniStar Nuclear Energy development venture. After being ranked in the lower tier for federal loan guarantees, Exelon said it is seeking a reactor design more proven than the GE Hitachi Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor it initially planned to   Read More...

$10-a-gallon Gas?

12/18/2008

Enjoying the $1.67-a-gallon gas for your holiday travels? Well, enjoy it while you can because the guys President-elect Obama is appointing in key positions want gas prices to be much higher. Let’s start with his Secretary of Energy, Dr Steven Chu. From our friends at the National Taxpayers Union: Somehow we have to figure out how to   Read More...

Alaskan Drilling: Small Area, Big Potential

July 30, 2008
A la Chart 032
  • 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

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002983778

12/16/2008

Taxing our gas guzzling relapse -CNN Money

11/10/2008

Flashpoint: Arctic security heats up

11/07/2008

A Pipeline Runs Through It - Investor's Business Daily

08/14/2008

Russia's aggression is not only about toppling a pro-Western democracy and potential NATO member. It's about the only pipeline bringing Caspian Sea oil to the West not controlled by Moscow or Iran.

Will Congress Cross the Jordan? - Nick Loris, IDB

08/13/2008

While members of Congress take vacations their constituents can no longer afford, a country prepares to end its dependence on foreign oil by extracting supplies from shale rock. It's not the U.S. It's in the Middle East.

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 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