November 24, 2008
The True Costs of EPA Global Warming Regulation
By Ben Lieberman
(Backgrounder #2213)
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 ...
November 10, 2008
Washington Subsidies Not Necessary to Rebuild U.S. Nuclear Industry
By Jack Spencer and Nicolas D. Loris
(Backgrounder #2207)
The private sector has already begun to invest in the nuclear industry without federal government subsidies. Congress should take steps that promote industrial independence, not ...
November 10, 2008
EPA-Mandated CO2 Reductions Will Lower U.S. Industries' Return on Equity
By Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-12)
The global warming policy debate is increasing the calls for reduction of carbon-dioxide and other greenhouse-gas emissions. The proposal to allow the EPA to broadly ...
November 5, 2008
Impact of CO2 Restrictions on Employment and Income: Green Jobs or Gone Jobs?
By David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2122)
Those pushing restrictions on carbon dioxide have tried to repackage global-warming legislation as jobs bills. As appealing as the repackaging seems on the surface, the ...
October 30, 2008
The New Cold War: Reviving the U.S. Presence in the Arctic
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., Lajos F. Szaszdi, Ph.D., and Jim Dolbow
(Backgrounder #2202)
U.S. Arctic policy is moribund and needs a comprehensive revival. The USGS estimates that the Arctic might hold up to 13 percent of the world’s ...
October 30, 2008
Executive Summary: The New Cold War: Reviving the U.S. Presence in the Arctic
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., Lajos F. Szaszdi, Ph.D., and Jim Dolbow
(Executive Summary #2202)
U.S. Arctic policy is moribund and needs a comprehensive revival. The USGS estimates that the Arctic might hold up to 13 percent of the world’s ...
October 29, 2008
CO2-Emission Cuts: The Economic Costs of the EPA's ANPR Regulations
By David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., and Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-10)
The EPA's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) proposes an unprecedented expansion of federal ability to regulate CO2 emissions. Its limits on CO2 emissions would ...
October 27, 2008
OPEC Redux: Responding to the Russian–Iranian Gas Cartel
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2118)
On October 21 in Tehran, the Gas Exporting Countries’ Forum (GECF) agreed to form a cartel. Russia, Iran, and Qatar announced that they intend to ...
October 17, 2008
Falling Oil Prices: Useful Lessons from the Slump at the Pump
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #2106)
Last summer’s record-breaking oil and gasoline prices received plenty of attention in Washington and sparked a host of proposed responses from Congress. However, the real ...
October 1, 2008
The Economic Case for Drilling Oil Reserves
By David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2093)
Energy is critical to the operation of our economy and the maintenance and improvement of our standard of living. Restricting access to energy hurts the ...
September 19, 2008
Lower Home Heating Bills by Increasing Domestic Energy Supplies
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #2067)
Gasoline prices have fallen a bit since hitting $4.00 a gallon last summer, but America’s total energy bill is going to increase in the months ...
September 15, 2008
Time to Fast-track New Nuclear Reactors
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #2062)
Many in Congress have begun to realize that the nation’s energy, economic, security, and environmental objectives cannot be met without nuclear power. Instituting a program ...
September 8, 2008
The Gang of 10's Energy Bill: Just More Bad Energy Ideas
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #2052)
On Friday, September 5 the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its employment estimates for August 2008. Government data shows that employers continued to shed jobs ...
September 8, 2008
Grading the Gang of 10's Nuclear Energy Proposal
By Jack Spencer and Nicolas Loris
(WebMemo #2053)
Although the Gang of 10's energy plan has been subject to a great deal of criticism, they should be applauded for their bipartisan efforts to ...
August 8, 2008
Congressional Moratorium on Offshore Drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf Should Be Allowed to Expire
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #2016)
Congressional restrictions are the only thing standing between 19 billion barrels of additional domestic oil and the citizens who need it. If Congress does not ...
July 29, 2008
Saving the NPT and the Nonproliferation Regime in an Era of Nuclear Renaissance
By Jack Spencer
(Testimony )
Testimony before the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
July 28, 2008
Energy Policy: Let's Not Repeat the Mistakes of the '70s
By Ben Lieberman and Nicholas D. Loris
(WebMemo #2004)
America is currently facing energy challenges reminiscent of the 1970s. Unfortunately, rising gas prices have policymakers repeating the mistakes from that decade-mistakes that took a ...
July 24, 2008
Oil Speculators Help Consumers at the Gas Pump
By David Kreutzer
(WebMemo #2003)
A 2006 study by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is used by those claiming a causal link from futures market speculation to higher petroleum ...
July 22, 2008
No Taxpayer Bailout for the Earmarked Highway Bill
By Ron Utt
(WebMemo #2001)
With the highway trust fund expected to be empty when the current highway legislation expires next year, the current spending gap should be filled by ...
July 17, 2008
Oil Speculators: A Marginal (at Best) Cause of High Energy Prices
By J. D. Foster
(WebMemo #1998)
To deflect attention from high energy prices, Congress has joined in the finger-pointing, and the easiest targets are "speculators." Yet surprising voices are rising to ...
July 14, 2008
Lifting the Offshore Drilling Ban: A Positive Step in the Fight against High Energy Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1990)
The President took a positive step today by rescinding the executive moratorium on exploration and production in American waters. However, Congress still needs to act ...
July 14, 2008
How Rising Gas Prices Hurt American Households
By Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2162)
Higher gas prices lower employment, income, and spending. To the extent that the high price of gasoline is not a clear signal because of excessive ...
July 11, 2008
"A Glorious Mess": EPA Notice Would Have Dramatic Impact on U.S. Military
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1988)
The EPA's proposed new rules could put more obligations on our already-burdened military.
July 11, 2008
EPA Should Not Ignore Congress on Global Warming Restrictions
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1987)
The proposed regulations in the ANPR would result a vast expansion of the EPA's power, giving it unprecedented regulatory oversight into all sectors of the ...
July 2, 2008
Nuclear Energy: What We Can Learn From Other Nations
By Nicolas Loris and Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1977)
With energy supplies at a premium, it's even more imperative that the U.S. look overseas for ideas on how to use nuclear energy safely and ...
June 26, 2008
More Energy Supplies, Not More Taxes and Regulations, Are What We Need
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1969)
Congress should be opening up energy resources instead of looking for scapegoats.
June 23, 2008
A Free-Market Approach to Managing Used Nuclear Fuel
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #2149)
A Free-Market Approach to Managing Used Nuclear Fuel
June 19, 2008
Critics of Nuclear Power's Costs Miss the Point
By Jack Spencer and Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1961)
Carbon-capping legislation and recent studies that conclude that a massive build-up of nuclear power is needed to minimize the negative economic impact of CO2 caps ...
June 19, 2008
Opening America's Waters to Energy Production: A Positive Step in the Fight Against High Energy Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1963)
Washington, D.C., must do something about the increasing price of gasoline, now topping $4.00 per gallon. One important step would be to tap our own ...
June 9, 2008
The Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 Will Only Increase Gas Prices and Energy Costs
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1950)
ood energy policy is easy to distinguish from bad energy policy: Good policy leads to ...
June 9, 2008
What Is Driving the High Oil Prices?
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., and Owen Graham
(WebMemo #1951)
As oil and gasoline prices surpass $134 per barrel and $4 per gallon, respectively, it is clear that significant change is underway in global energy ...
June 2, 2008
The Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Act: A Solution Worse Than the Problem
By Ben Lieberman
(Backgrounder #2140)
America's Climate Security Act of 2007 requires significant emissions reductions before the technologies capable of achieving them affordably are available. The science points away from ...
June 2, 2008
Nuclear Power Needed to Minimize Lieberman-Warner's Economic Impact
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1944)
Anxiety over human-induced global warming is driving the debate over energy policy. The Lieberman–Warner climate change bill (S. 2191) is the political manifestation of this ...
May 30, 2008
Executive Summary: The Proposed Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline: An Unacceptable Risk to Regional Security
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., Lisa Curtis, and Owen Graham
(Executive Summary #2139)
The Iran–Pakistan–India pipeline would be contrary to U.S. strategic interests, would destabilize the Persian Gulf, and would strengthen Russia’s grip over Central Asia, decreasing both ...
May 30, 2008
The Proposed Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline: An Unacceptable Risk to Regional Security
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., Lisa Curtis, and Owen Graham
(Backgrounder #2139)
The Iran–Pakistan–India pipeline would be contrary to U.S. strategic interests, would destabilize the Persian Gulf, and would strengthen Russia’s grip over Central Asia, decreasing both ...
May 30, 2008
Five Myths About the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Legislation
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1940)
On June 2, the United States Senate will begin debate on America’s Climate Security Act (S. 2191), sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John ...
May 22, 2008
Effect of the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Legislation on States
By William W. Beach, Ben Lieberman, David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., and Nicolas D. Loris
(WebMemo #1930)
Workers and families in the United States may be wondering how climate change legislation before Congress will affect their income, their jobs, and the cost ...
May 19, 2008
The Good and Bad Approaches to Affordable Energy Policy
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1927)
Good energy policy is easy to distinguish from bad energy policy: Good policy leads to ...
May 15, 2008
Time to Repeal the Ethanol Mandate
By Ben Lieberman and Nicolas Loris
(WebMemo #1925)
Though intended to help consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the ethanol mandate has done just the opposite, contributing to high food and gas prices ...
May 15, 2008
Russia 123 Agreement: Not Ready for Primetime
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1926)
Though intended to help consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the ethanol mandate has done just the opposite, contributing to high food and gas prices ...
May 12, 2008
Congress Should Not Tamper with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1920)
Congress is about to legislate that the U.S. government stop purchasing oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Some believe that this would bring gasoline ...
May 12, 2008
The Economic Costs of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation
By William W. Beach, David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas D. Loris
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-02)
The Lieberman-Warner climate change bill is, in many respects, an unprecedented proposal. Its limits on CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions would impose significant costs ...
May 6, 2008
Meeting Energy Challenges in the Western Hemisphere
By Ray Walser, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1079)
Meeting the nation’s petroleum needs from affordable and secure sources is vital for national security. The best guarantee for future energy security remains a stable, ...
May 2, 2008
Ethanol and Other Biofuels: A Global Warming Solution Worse Than the Problem
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1912)
There are risks to global warming policy as well as risks to global warming, and although the former could be costlier than the latter, they ...
May 1, 2008
Yucca Mountain Remains Critical to Spent Nuclear Fuel Management
By Jack Spencer and Nicolas Loris
(Backgrounder #2131)
Nuclear energy can be clean, safe, and affordable, but managing spent nuclear fuel has been a political sticking point for the advancement of nuclear energy ...
April 18, 2008
Both Bad and Good in Bush's Climate Change Speech
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1897)
President George W. Bush, in a speech delivered at the White House on Wednesday, April 16, suggested that he will support federal limits on greenhouse ...
April 18, 2008
Nuclear Power Critical to Meeting President's Greenhouse Gas Objectives
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1898)
On April 16, President George W. Bush established a national goal to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. His plan would first ...
April 2, 2008
Time for Second Thoughts on the Ethanol Mandate
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1879)
The federal renewable fuels mandate is an unfolding failure, and more Members of Congress are taking notice.
March 28, 2008
The EPA's Prudent Response to Massachusetts v. EPA
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1870)
The EPA has taken the best course of action on the question of regulating carbon dioxide emissions.
March 25, 2008
Uranium Mining Is Important for Securing America's Energy Future
By Jack Spencer and Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1866)
As nuclear power expands, it will be critical that uranium resources are accessible when mining can be done in a safe and economical way.
March 19, 2008
Finland's Rational Approach to Nuclear Power
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #2117)
The U.S. should learn from Finland that nuclear power can be important in reconciling the desire to reduce pollution with the need to remain economically ...
March 6, 2008
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2008: Modernizing Spent Fuel Management in the U.S.
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #2113)
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 does not provide the clarifications, authorization, and flexibility needed to move nuclear power forward in the United States. ...
February 26, 2008
EPA Should Not Increase the Ozone Regulation Burden
By Nick Loris and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1827)
The EPA's proposal would hurt the economy and offers only marginal health benefits at best.
February 21, 2008
EPA Should Avoid Regulating Carbon Dioxide Emissions
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1822)
An "endangerment finding" would spark many measures with the potential to harm the U.S. economy and intrude on citizens' daily activities.
February 14, 2008
The 2008 House Energy Tax Bill: Repeating Past Mistakes
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1816)
By taxing successful energy sources and subsidizing failed ones, the House bill would raise prices for consumers and reduce energy security.
February 6, 2008
The EU's Climate Change Package: Not a Model to Be Copied
By Sally McNamara and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1800)
The United States should follow a pro-market approach that avoids mandatory targets and focuses on technological development.
January 25, 2008
Don't List the Polar Bear Under the Endangered Species Act
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1781)
Listing the polar bear as a threatened species would harm the economy and possibly the bears as well.
January 15, 2008
Don't Tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, But Tap Elsewhere
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1774)
To address high gas prices, Congress should reduce restrictions on domestic oil production.
December 21, 2007
The U.S. Must Be Resolute to Avoid Harmful Consequences of the Bali Global Warming Conference
By Brett D. Schaefer and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1759)
The U.S. should remain adamant in its opposition to binding emissions caps and insist that any agreement be flexible and focus on solutions that do ...
December 18, 2007
House Energy Bill Promises Higher Prices, More Deaths, and Big Subsidies for Unproven Technologies
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1752)
The House's bill would drive up costs for consumers and businesses, decrease auto safety, and, at best, marginally benefit the environment.
December 18, 2007
Omnibus Prohibits Oil Shale Development
By Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1754)
Spending bills should not include policy riders that stand in the way of U.S. energy independence.
December 17, 2007
Ethanol Loses Ground at U.N. Climate Conference: Congress Should Rethink Energy Bill Mandate
By Nicolas Loris and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1750)
Ethanol mandates come at a steep price and will not solve energy and environmental problems.
December 13, 2007
Congress Should Fix the Flawed Wage Determination Process Before Expanding the Davis–Bacon Act
By James Sherk
(WebMemo #1743)
Rather than expand its coverage, Congress should fix the Davis–Bacon Act.
December 12, 2007
Energy Bill Tax Title Promises More Pain at the Pump
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1736)
The pending energy bill would increase taxes on the energy sources America relies upon, namely oil and natural gas, in order to subsidize alternatives with ...
December 10, 2007
Paying More at the Pump: Energy Bill Would Increase Gas Prices
By William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1729)
H.R. 6 could increase the price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.06 per gallon to $5.02 by 2016.
December 6, 2007
Beware of Cap and Trade Climate Bills
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1723)
S. 2191 would likely increase energy costs and do considerably more economic harm than environmental good.
December 6, 2007
Energy Bill Must Not Exclude Nuclear from CO2 Fix
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1724)
Legislation that aims to reduce carbon emissions should set the target and allow the market to determine the best way forward.
December 5, 2007
The Compromise Energy Bill: Harmful Regulation, Not Affordable Energy
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1721)
Costlier vehicles running on costlier fuels, and a boost in electric bills: This is Congress's solution to the nation’s energy challenges.
December 3, 2007
Dispelling Myths About Nuclear Energy
By Jack Spencer and Nicolas Loris
(Backgrounder #2087)
Anti-nuclear activists managed to stop the nuclear industry once before, but nuclear energy is too important to America for this to be allowed to happen ...
November 15, 2007
Competitive Nuclear Energy Investment: Avoiding Past Policy Mistakes
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #2086)
Nuclear power is a proven, safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels that can offset America’s growing dependence on foreign energy. Federal, state, ...
November 14, 2007
Congress Should Not Overlook Benefits of Nuclear Energy
By Jack Spencer and Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1704)
Congress should opt for market-based policies that do not force specific technologies on American energy consumers.
November 2, 2007
The Costs of a Failed U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Deal
By Lisa Curtis
(WebMemo #1688)
Failure would be a setback for India’s status on the world stage and its relationship with the United States.
October 30, 2007
Emissions Mandates Would Undermine National Security
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Oliver Horn
(WebMemo #1683)
The Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007 offers an unnecessary and dangerous strategy for reducing the military’s energy demands.
October 11, 2007
Global Climate-Change Bills Before Congress
By Ben Lieberman and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #2075)
Climate legislation can take two forms: expanding existing measures that mandate alternative energy sources or reduce energy consumption and imposing cap-and-trade restrictions on emissions from ...
October 9, 2007
Congress Must Implement CSC Treaty to Reinvigorate U.S. Nuclear Industry
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1658)
The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage will better enable U.S. companies to engage in peaceful international nuclear commerce.
September 26, 2007
The Nuclear Renaissance: Ten Principles to Guide U.S. Policy
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1640)
The United States risks cementing its status in the second tier of commercial nuclear power states unless it takes action.
September 24, 2007
The Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change: A Badly Needed Alternative to the Kyoto Protocol
By Ben Lieberman and Brett D. Schaefer
(WebMemo #1636)
Focusing on voluntary reductions and technological innovation is a more promising strategy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
September 19, 2007
Bush Administration Advocates for Clean, Affordable Nuclear Energy
By Jack Spencer
(WebMemo #1625)
Nuclear power has the potential to meet future energy demand while alleviating environmental, economic, and security concerns.
August 20, 2007
If the Real Simón Bolívar Met Hugo Chávez, He'd See Red
By James M. Roberts
(Backgrounder #2062)
Hugo Chávez aims to dominate the Caribbean Basin and Andean region and fulfill the dream of his mentor, Fidel Castro. Venezuela has become a hub ...
August 20, 2007
Executive Summary: If the Real Simón Bolívar Met Hugo Chávez, He’d See Red
By James M. Roberts
(Executive Summary #2062)
Hugo Chávez aims to dominate the Caribbean Basin and Andean region and fulfill the dream of his mentor, Fidel Castro. Venezuela has become a hub ...
August 1, 2007
The House Energy Bill: As Anti-Energy As the Senate Version
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1581)
The House energy bill repeats past mistakes and will likely lead to lower domestic energy supplies and higher costs over the long term.
July 25, 2007
If Iran Provokes an Energy Crisis: Modeling the Problem in a War Game
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #07-03)
A focused but restrained use of military power oriented toward objectives that address vital national interests would demonstrate U.S. determination to uphold freedom of navigation ...
July 13, 2007
Africa's Oil and Gas Sector: Implications for U.S. Policy
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., and Rafal Alasa
(Backgrounder #2052)
Development and transformation of Africa’s energy sector presents a unique opportunity for cooperation between African countries and energy consumers, particularly since Africa is geographically closer ...
July 9, 2007
No Energy in the House Energy Bill
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1542)
By further restricting domestic production, the House energy bill would raise prices for consumers and may even increase dependence on foreign producers.
June 26, 2007
Twelve Principles to Guide U.S. Energy Policy
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., and Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2046)
The best way to facilitate access to oil and gas and foster new alternatives that work for the U.S. economy while addressing homeland and national ...
June 21, 2007
Senate Energy Bill Tax Title Hikes Taxes and Promises Higher Prices for Consumers
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1519)
Raising taxes on what works and heaping subsidies on what does not was bad energy tax policy in the past and will not do any ...
June 19, 2007
Senate Bill 1419, Title VII: A Partial Measure to Increase U.S. Energy Security
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D. and Owen Graham
(WebMemo #1514)
While Title VII has some laudable features, it ignores many short- and long-term threats to U.S. energy security.
June 18, 2007
Senate Energy Bill Would Increase Gas Prices
By William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1512)
Through taxes and regulations, S. 1419 could increase the price of gasoline by 104 percent by 2016.
June 13, 2007
S. 1419: Bad News for Any Energy Consumer
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1506)
Almost every bad energy policy idea circulating in Washington has found a home in the 2007 energy bill. If this misguided measure becomes law, the ...
June 1, 2007
The G-8 Summit: President Bush Must Stand Firm on Global Warming
By Sally McNamara and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1481)
The Administration should actively reject entreaties from fellow G-8 nations to agree to growth-sapping controls on energy use and instead continue its successful model in ...
May 23, 2007
Gasoline Price Gouging Laws Will Not Benefit Consumers
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1469)
According to the FTC and past experience, price-gouging laws are likely to do more harm than good, possibly raising prices at the pump.
May 21, 2007
Time for Congress to Lift OPEC's Immunity
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1463)
At a time when oil prices are climbing to ever-higher levels, fighting OPEC’s anticompetitive practices would be a welcome first step towards reestablishing the free ...
May 14, 2007
The National Security Consequences of Oil Dependency
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1021)
The dependence of the U.S. and the global economy on oil is growing, which can have dire consequences for the economic well-being of the United ...
May 8, 2007
Beware of Anti-Consumer Energy Bills On Tap in Congress
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1447)
Though far less dangerous than a comprehensive global warming bill, Congress's latest energy proposals are problematic enough to justify serious concern.
April 26, 2007
Oil Shale: Toward a Strategic Unconventional Fuels Supply Policy
By Daniel Fine, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1015)
Long-term U.S. government purchase agreements to buy oil from shale for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 could mitigate historic ...
April 16, 2007
Discussing Global Warming in the Security Council: Premature and a Distraction from More Pressing Crises
By Brett Schaefer and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1425)
The projected threats of global warming do not rise to the level of Security Council consideration.
April 12, 2007
Gas OPEC: A Stealthy Cartel Emerges
By Ariel Cohen
(WebMemo #1423)
Steadily and stealthily, a natural gas cartel is emerging.
March 28, 2007
The Ethanol Mandate Should Not Be Expanded
By Ben Lieberman
(Backgrounder #2020)
Creating a 35 billion gallon ethanol mandate in the hope that technological breakthroughs will help to meet it is not responsible policy. Instead of trying ...
March 26, 2007
$6.00 Per Gallon Gas: Not High Enough To Fight Global Warming?
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1408)
Those who support legislative efforts like increased gas taxes to combat global warming should come clean to the American people about their proposals' likely impacts ...
March 21, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Warming
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1403)
Is the release of carbon dioxide a significant factor relative to natural temperature variability, what are likely consequences of warming, and what should be done ...
March 20, 2007
Two Cheers for the President's Brazilian Ethanol Initiative
By Ariel Cohen
(WebMemo #1401)
Cooperation with Brazil on ethanol will benefit U.S. energy security and U.S. stature in the Western hemisphere, as well as send a message to the ...
March 15, 2007
Water Quality Bill Marred by High Costs and Davis-Bacon Handouts
By James Sherk
(WebMemo #1396)
Congress should strike a special-interest handout that would redistribute income from taxpayers to union workers, while making it more expensive for communities to build new ...
February 7, 2007
Don't Rush To Judgment on U.N.'s IPCC Global Warming Summary
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1351)
Caution is warranted in drawing policy conclusions based on this summary, as the full scientific debate over the IPCC report has not begun.
January 24, 2007
State of the Union 2007: Recognizing the Threat of Strategic Oil Dependency
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1324)
The President points his finger at OPEC.
January 23, 2007
State of the Union 2007: A Counterproductive Energy Policy
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1323)
The President’s energy policy has drifted towards the same troubling approach Americans saw during the Carter Administration.
January 17, 2007
Memo to Speaker Pelosi: H.R. 6 Risks Making Energy More Expensive
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1315)
H.R. 6 will, at best, do nothing to reduce gasoline prices and could actually increase them over the long term.
December 12, 2006
Interior's Energy Inventory: Abundant Domestic Supplies Off-Limits
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1285)
Billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas lie in U.S. territories. Bad federal policy keeps most of it off-limits ...
December 4, 2006
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006: One Small Step for Energy Supply
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1273)
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 is a small, worthwhile step toward expanding domestic energy production.
September 27, 2006
Declining Energy Prices No Reason for Complacency
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1225)
The short-term easing off of prices does not take the pressure off Congress to open ANWR and expand offshore drilling.
September 15, 2006
An Immoral Law: Congress Should Not Criminalize “Price Gouging” of Gasoline
By Todd Gaziano
(WebMemo #1214)
Imposing criminal liability for raising prices in a competitive market is ludicrous.
August 10, 2006
American-Made Energy from ANWR at a Modest Cost
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1192)
New legislation would open ANWR.
July 25, 2006
The Senate Should Adopt a Comprehensive Approach to Deepwater Oil and Natural Gas
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1173)
While opening Lease Sale area 181 to energy production would be a positive step, the Senate should consider the House's bolder approach.
July 25, 2006
Time to Remove Barriers to Boosting Oil Refining Capacity
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1174)
If it is serious about reducing Americans' pain at the pump, the Senate should streamline federal regulation of refineries.
June 28, 2006
The Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act of 2006: State Control, Increased Supply, and Lower Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1140)
Congress passed a 1,700-page energy bill last year and has since introduced hundreds of additional energy bills. Unfortunately, most of these measures will not bring ...
June 20, 2006
End Restrictions on Domestic Offshore Energy Production
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1135)
The United States is the only nation in the world that has placed a substantial amount of its oil and natural gas potential off-limits. This ...
June 12, 2006
The FTC's Primer on Price Gouging
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1120)
With the high price of gasoline today, Members of Congress are scrambling for policies that could lower prices and demonstrate that they are doing everything ...
June 5, 2006
Congress Should Streamline Regulatory Impediments to Refinery Expansions
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1112)
High oil prices, currently triple the average of the 1990s, are the main cause of today's high gasoline prices. But they are not the only ...
May 31, 2006
The Real Culprit Behind Price-Gouging: OPEC
By Ariel Cohen and William L T Schirano
(WebMemo #1102)
State-owned oil companies that make up the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and control 80 percent of the world's oil reserves, continue to gouge ...
May 24, 2006
Congress Should Let ANWR's Oil Flow to U.S. Customers
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1094)
Congress should open a small part of Alaska's Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil exploration and drilling. H.R. 5429, the "American-Made Energy and Good ...
May 18, 2006
Congress Should Expand Offshore Energy Production
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1086)
Most of America's offshore areas are off-limits to oil and natural gas drilling, despite years of tight energy supplies and high prices for oil and ...
May 12, 2006
Lift Tariffs on Foreign Ethanol
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1074)
The ethanol mandate is a bad idea. Tariffs that drive up the price of ethanol make it worse.
May 11, 2006
Common Sense Over Cuban Drilling
By Stephen Johnson
(WebMemo #1072)
Lawmakers debate drilling in Cuban waters.
May 4, 2006
Avoiding Backfires at the Pump: How to Handle High Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1058)
There are good and bad ideas for dealing with high gas prices.
May 3, 2006
One Good Idea and One Bad Idea for Dealing with $3.00 Gas
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1055)
The House votes on two bills that deal with gas prices.
April 28, 2006
How the Energy Bill Boosted Prices at the Pump
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1053)
The 2005 energy bill has contributed to rising gas prices.
April 7, 2006
The Right and Wrong Way for Washington To Address High Gasoline Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1033)
Expand supplies and cut regulation to improve energy markets and prices.
March 20, 2006
Correcting Mistakes of the 1990s Should Top the Energy Agenda for 2006
By Ben Lieberman
(Backgrounder #1921)
The energy policy mistakes of the 1990s largely remain in place. The nation is still not using its available oil and natural gas resources, and ...
March 14, 2006
A Positive Step In Easing the Natural Gas Crunch
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1015)
The solution is simple: tap the Gulf's massive reserves.
March 1, 2006
Raising Taxes on Oil Companies Is No Way To Reduce Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1004)
A new implementation of a bad idea.
January 31, 2006
State of the Union 2006: Dusting Off the Old Energy Policy
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #979)
Subsidies, grants, government-directed research and development. This sounds much too familiar.
January 30, 2006
Opening ANWR Should Be in the State of the Union Address
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #973)
It's the best energy measure the President could put forward.
January 4, 2006
Russia's Gas Attack on Ukraine: An Uneasy Truce
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #954)
Moscow's attempt to deal a decisive blow to President Victor Yushchenko.
November 15, 2005
Windfall Profits of Doom
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #918)
Criticizing big oil companies and their big profits is very popular in Congress right now. Even some normally free-market Republicans have tried to outdo the ...
November 7, 2005
Time To Pull the Plug on Federally Subsidized Electricity
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #910)
Congress has finally started looking for places to cut spending but so far has left alone federal expenditures on energy. However, the government wastes billions ...
November 2, 2005
The Environmental Disaster That Wasn't
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #907)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not cause any major offshore oil spills despite striking America's biggest oil producing region.
October 25, 2005
Increasing the Global Transportation Fuel Supply
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #986)
An unabated and sharp hike in oil prices in the future could cause a global recession, as has happened twice in the past. To avoid ...
October 25, 2005
The Gas PRICE Act: A Modest Step Forward in the Post-Katrina Energy Debate
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #895)
Opponents say the bill would roll back environmental protections. They're wrong.
September 29, 2005
More Domestic Energy: The Right Response to Katrina and Rita
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #868)
Increased production and refining capacity are both crucial to reducing the volatility of energy prices in the years ahead.
September 23, 2005
Improving the Endangered Species Act: Balancing the Needs of Landowners and Endangered Wildlife
By Nancy Marano and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #861)
A close look at the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005.
September 2, 2005
No Easy Answers For Post-Katrina Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #831)
The short term solution is to waive regulations; long term, Congress should focus on supply.
September 1, 2005
A Bad Response To Post-Katrina Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #827)
Capping the price of gas will cause shortages--even allowing 'price-gouging' is a better solution.
July 29, 2005
The Bad Tax Bill Within the Bad Energy Bill
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #811)
The energy bill's tax provisions tax provisions are a collection of old ideas that have never worked, new ideas unlikely to work, a
