China’s economy is growing with dizzying speed, and the government is fueling the growth with plentiful energy. In fact, China’s electrification program and its ability to secure future oil supplies are second to none. By contrast, the U.S. economy is growing more slowly and its energy strategy is limiting that growth. The United States has [...]

The U.S. Congress has proposed legislation that would institute a low-carbon fuel standard, following in California’s footsteps. To date, none of the proposals has passed. But meanwhile, individual states are looking into the passage of a California-like standard, which would restrict the carbon intensity of their transportation and home heating fuels. Unfortunately, such a standard [...]

Electric utilities are constructing expensive and inefficient solar plants because of subsidies and mandates from federal and state governments. The subsidies are not free–they come from the American taxpayer. And once the subsidies expire, consumers will pay higher electricity rates. So, either as taxpayers or as consumers, the American public is paying for these facilities. [...]

As energy secretary Steven Chu continues his trip through the Middle East to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energy security,” we ask: What else could have been accomplished by a quick trip to Canada, the U.S.’s largest energy importer and exporter? Washington, DC – As U.S. secretary of energy Steven Chu continues his [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2009 CONTACT: Laura Henderson 202.621.2951 Obama Motors: Costly, Bureaucratic, and Pointless WASHINGTON—In response to President Obama’s newly introduced mile-per-gallon fuel mandate, Institute for Energy Research President Thomas J. Pyle issued the following statement: “It is overwhelming to consider the ways this new mandate will harm the American economy. This stealth [...]

PDF version (174 KB) Last December, California released a draft low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) which calls for a 10.5 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of gasoline and a 10 percent reduction for diesel. Following California’s lead, representatives of 11 Northeastern states recently signed an agreement to pursue a region-wide low-carbon fuel standard. The [...]

Synopsis (104KB) Introduction Energy is the lifeblood of our economy. The United States, with less than 5% of the world’s population, uses about 25% of the world’s energy and creates nearly 30% of the world’s economic input. The productivity gained from U.S. energy consumption is a major contributor not only to our quality of life, [...]

Synopsis (104KB) Complete Analysis (60KB) The following comparison of Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s energy and environmental plans comes from the statements of their plans on their official web sites. The text first indicates what the respective plans say on each topic, and then provides IER’s analysis of each topic within the program. Table of [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2008 CONTACT Brian Kennedy (202) 434-8200 ‘Gang of Ten’ Plan Attracts Flies Despite fatal flaws, support for ‘New Era’ plan grows as election looms WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER), issued the following statement today in response to the recent expansion of support [...]