Congress and Energy Policy Moves: A Focus on Consumer Choice and Scientific Integrity

In recent weeks, Congress and federal agencies have taken significant steps to shape U.S. energy and environmental policies. The House and Senate both passed Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to rescind the Biden EPA’s waivers allowing California to regulate the nation’s car and truck industry. This move blocks a 2035 ban on new gas-powered vehicles, which would have had national implications. Lawmakers supporting the resolutions emphasized freedom, consumer choice, and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) experts testified before Congress on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Ben Lieberman highlighted the IRA’s costly subsidies for alternative energy, which are driving up utility bills and threatening grid reliability. Paige Lambermont testified on the importance of using federal lands to power American innovation.
President Trump issued an executive order to improve scientific integrity at federal agencies, prioritizing transparency and reproducibility. The order addresses the reproducibility crisis in modern science and discourages reliance on unrealistic models.
Internationally, Spain’s recent blackout serves as a cautionary tale. With 70% of its power sourced from wind and solar during the outage, the event underscores the challenges of managing renewable energy grids.
These developments reflect ongoing debates over energy policy, competition, and the role of government in shaping the nation’s energy future.

Published: 6/2/2025