Leadership for America

Protect America

Advancing freedom and prosperity by unleashing free enterprise, protecting...

Read more about Energy & Environment

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.

Objectives

  1. 1.To unleash the creativity of free enterprise to meet America’s energy and environmental needs.

  2. 2.To protect America’s energy interests.

  3. 3.To advance free global energy markets.

Experts From This Initiative

  • Jack Spencer Jack Spencer

    Jack Spencer specializes in nuclear energy issues in both the domestic and global arenas as The Heritage Foundation’s research fellow in nuclear energy policy. Spencer studies and writes about nuclear waste management, technological advances, industry subsidies and international approaches to nuclear energy. As part of Heritage's Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, he also researches regulation of the industry, proliferation issues, the global energy market, and national security uses for nuclear power. Much of Spencer’s work centers on developing a comprehensive, subsidy-free, market-based approach to nuclear energy policy. That strategy includes fighting to preserve Yucca Mountain as a safe repository for nuclear materials. Spencer has testified before Congress on related topics, including nuclear loan guarantees and international implications of the growth of commercial nuclear power. The President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future heard his testimony in 2010 on how to introduce market forces into public policy for safely managing nuclear waste. Spencer began his second tour of duty at Heritage in September 2007, after working on commercial, civilian and military components of nuclear energy at the Babcock & Wilcox Companies, based in Charlotte, N.C. From 1998 to 2005, he was a Heritage analyst on defense and national security. Spencer is quoted regularly in national newspapers such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. He has appeared as a guest expert on Fox News, MSNBC, C-SPAN and BBC, among other TV outlets, as well as on National Public Radio and such radio programs as “The Rush Limbaugh Show.” He holds a bachelor's degree in international politics from Frostburg State University and a master's degree from the University of Limerick. While in Ireland, he began research toward a doctorate in international relations and national security. Spencer, who grew up in Mount Savage, Md., currently resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife and daughter....

  • David Kreutzer, Ph.D. David Kreutzer, Ph.D.

    David Kreutzer is the Research Fellow in Energy Economics and Climate Change at The Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis. In this position, Kreutzer researches how energy and climate change legislation will affect economic activity at the national, local, and industry levels. Before joining Heritage in February 2008, Kreutzer was an economist at Berman and Company, a Washington-based public affairs firm. From 1984 to 2007, he taught economics at Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., where he also served as Director of the International Business Program.  In addition, Kreutzer was a Visiting Economist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1994 and was a visiting economics instructor at Ohio University in the early 1980s. Kreutzer also has some local political experience. From January 2003 to December 2004, Kreutzer served as Mayor of Dayton, Va., a town of about 1,300 people in Rockingham County near the West Virginia state line. Before that, Kreutzer served on Dayton’s Town Council for nine years. Kreutzer's research has appeared in journals such as The Journal of Political Economy, the National Tax Journal, Economic Inquiry, The Southern Economic Journal and The Journal of Energy and Development.  He has also written for mainstream media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, the Journal of Commerce, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Kreutzer earned a doctorate in economics from George Mason University in 1984. He also has a bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from Virginia Tech. Raised in Northern Virginia, he now lives with his wife and three children in Arlington....

  • Nicolas Loris Nicolas Loris

    Nicolas (Nick) Loris focuses on energy, environmental and regulatory issues as a policy analyst in the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. Loris researches and writes about energy prices and other economic effects of environmental policies and regulations, in particular climate change or “cap and trade” legislation.  He also articulates the benefits of free market environmentalism. He has been published and quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Times, Investor's Business Daily, Baltimore Sun and Kansas City Star. His radio and television appearances include Fox News Channel and National Public Radio. He is a prolific contributor to The Foundry, Heritage’s rapid-response policy blog. Before joining Heritage in June 2007, Loris was an associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, immersing himself for a year in a market-based management program. His first media experience was as an editorial intern for Townhall.com. Loris received his master's degree in economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.  He holds a bachelor's degree in economics, finance and political science from Albright College in Reading, Pa. Loris, who was born and grew up in Quakertown, Pa., currently resides in Arlington, Va. ...

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