The Institute for Energy Research

07/15/2026

🚨 BLUE STATE POLICIES RAISING OUR GAS PRICES! 🚨

Ever wonder why filling up your tank feels like a luxury? While politicians love to blame energy producers and gas stations, the cold hard data reveals a much closer culprit: your state’s political policies.

A groundbreaking 2026 data analysis by the Institute for Energy Research reveals a massive, undeniable gap: drivers in unified Democratic-controlled states are paying an average of $0.55 MORE per gallon at the pump than drivers in Republican-run states ($3.69 vs. $3.14).

This isn't a random coincidence or "geographical destiny." It is a direct, math-backed consequence of decades of accumulated tax hikes, heavy-handed regulations, and outright hostility toward domestic refineries.

Look at what’s driving up your fuel costs:

❌ Aggressive Gas Taxes: State fuel taxes are the single largest policy lever, with nearly 90% of every tax dollar passed straight through to you at the pump.
❌ Extreme Carbon Schemes: Accelerated cap-and-trade programs have nearly doubled carbon costs, hitting drivers with massive stealth taxes.
❌ Refinery Hostility: Extreme regulations are forcing major, reliable West Coast refineries to shut down or convert, starving local markets of gasoline and leaving them with no pipeline backup.

These policies are so destructive they don't stop at state borders. Energy-pinched, high-tax states are dragging down their neighbors, forcing everyday drivers in nearby states to shoulder the costs of a broken regional energy system.

It is time to stop pretending these skyrocketing prices are an accident. High gas prices are a deliberate policy choice, and working families are the ones signing the check. 🛑👇

IS YOUR STATE TAXING YOU OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE? CLICK BELOW TO READ THE FULL REPORT ON HOW ACCUMULATED BLUE-STATE GAS POLICIES ARE EMPTYING YOUR WALLET — LINK IS IN THE COMMENTS! ⬇️💬

07/07/2026

🎙️ GLENN BECK JUST EXPOSED THE TRUTH: WHY IS YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL SKYROCKETING? 🎙️

On the latest episode of The Glenn Beck Program, Glenn broke down our shocking new report that every American family needs to see. If you are sick and span of opening your utility bills in fear, you are not alone—73% of Americans are terrified of rising energy costs this year, and 80% feel completely powerless against the utility companies.

The numbers don't lie. Federal data shows U.S. electricity prices surged by 27% between 2021 and early 2025, and then tacked on another 11% hike later that year. But there is a very specific pattern to who is getting hit the hardest.

According to the new report "Blue States, High Rates" by Always On Energy Research and the Institute for Energy Research, 86% of the states with the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S. are reliably BLUE. Meanwhile, 80% of the states with the cheapest, most affordable power are reliably RED.

Why the massive gap? Because under the Federal Power Act, state politicians have total control over your energy grid. High utility bills aren't an accident—they are a direct result of radical state-level policies, including:

❌ Extreme carbon-free and renewable mandates
❌ Cost-shifting net-metering programs
❌ Punitive cap-and-trade carbon taxes
❌ A total failure to protect consumers from massive AI data center energy demands
❌ Restricting access to cheap, reliable natural gas

When states force dependable coal, gas, and nuclear plants off the grid in favor of expensive, weather-dependent sources, working families are the ones forced to act as an open checkbook. 🛑👇

IS YOUR STATE BURNING THROUGH YOUR WALLET? VISIT THE BRAND NEW WEBSITE TO SEE THE EXPERT PROFILES ON ALL 50 STATES — LINK IS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! ⬇️💬

07/04/2026

We have a lot to celebrate this time of year. We also have a lot of work ahead to power America’s growth for the next 250 years.

Demand for electricity is climbing and prices are rising across the board. But the states sitting well above the average tend to share a set of choices: mandates that force utilities to buy more wind and solar, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the early retirement of coal and nuclear plants, and new natural gas pipelines left unbuilt.

Strip away the politics and the lesson is plain: higher electricity rates are the receipt for policy decisions made years earlier. We mapped it out, state by state, at BlueStatesHighRates.com. See where your state lands and what's driving the reality.

07/04/2026

The Fuel of Freedom: How American Energy Secured Victory in WWII

This Independence Day, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, we honor not just America’s ideals, but the unmatched industrial and energy might that defended them on the world stage.

When the forces of tyranny threatened global freedom in World War II, the United States didn't just out-march the enemy—we out-produced them. Fueling the Allied victory required an unprecedented mastery of logistics, powered entirely by American natural resources and ingenuity.

How American Energy Won the War:

The Arsenal of Democracy: Safe from Axis bombardment, the U.S. produced roughly 60% of the world's oil during the war, providing an uninterrupted lifeblood for the Allied military machine.

The "Big Inch" Miracle: When German U-boats targeted Atlantic tankers, American workers engineered the longest petroleum pipeline project in U.S. history. Built in record time, the Big and Little Big Inch pipelines safely pumped 300,000 barrels of oil a day from East Texas to frontline-bound ships.

Resource Ingenuity: When Japan cut off America's natural rubber supplies, U.S. innovators used domestic petroleum to manufacture nearly a million tons of synthetic rubber for military tires, alongside asphalt for runways and lubricants for weaponry.

While the Axis powers faced crippling resource shortages and failed military gambles to seize oil, American workers, engineers, and energy producers built an unconquerable supply chain. Without the abundance of American oil and the fierce determination of the home front, the defense of global freedom would have been impossible.

This 4th of July, we celebrate the enduring spirit of American innovation and the energy independence that keeps our nation strong, secure, and free. 🇺🇸🦅

📖 This analysis is part of Fueling America: 250 Years of Energy Innovation, a special project by the Institute for Energy Research. Read more at Fueling250.org. https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/gas-and-oil/american-energy-moments-world-war-ii/

Introduction May 8th, 1945, was the official day that World War II ended in Europe. Known as “VE Day,” or…

07/03/2026

From "Seward’s Folly" to Global Energy Powerhouse: The Geopolitical and Resource Evolution of Alaska

In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million—roughly two cents an acre. At the time, critics and contemporary press widely derided the acquisition as "Seward’s Folly" and a barren "polar bear garden."

Today, historical hindsight reveals the profound strategic and economic foresight of that transaction. Alaska has transitioned from a remote, unprofitable fur-trading territory into a critical pillar of American energy independence and geopolitical security.

Key Takeaways from Alaska's Energy Journey:

The Resource Wealth: Beyond its historic gold rushes, Alaska holds immense subterranean value, including an estimated 3.4 billion barrels of crude oil reserves, 125 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, and 2.8 billion tons of coal reserves. Furthermore, the state possesses 51 of the 54 critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Statehood Catalyst: Discoveries like the 1957 Swanson River oil strike provided the economic justification for Alaskan statehood. Under the Alaska Statehood Act, the state strategically selected 100 million acres of federal land for development, leading to the landmark 1968 discovery at Prudhoe Bay—North America’s largest conventional oil field.

Infrastructure & Innovation: Overcoming immense engineering and political hurdles, the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) has moved over 17 billion barrels of oil since 1977. Concurrently, the Kenai LNG facility pioneered American liquefied natural gas exports, serving as the nation's sole LNG export hub for nearly half a century.

Strategic Geography: Positioned as a bridge to Asia and Europe via the Arctic coastline, Alaska provides the United States with vital maritime and geopolitical leverage in the global North.

"The last frontier… can be the first frontier of a new era in American energy independence and economic growth."
— Tom Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research

While the state navigating contemporary regulatory shifts and production variances, its uncataloged exploration potential remains vast. Seward's vision serves as a historical testament to how long-term resource development and human ingenuity can transform undeveloped territory into a cornerstone of national prosperity.

📖 This analysis is part of Fueling America: 250 Years of Energy Innovation, a special project by the Institute for Energy Research highlighting America’s unique role as a global energy innovator. Read more in the comments below:

07/02/2026

🇺🇸 Logistics, Liberty, and the American Arsenal: Fueling the Liberation of Europe 🇺🇸

As we reflect on the monumental chapters of our national story through the Institute for Energy Research’s Fueling America: 250 Years of Energy Innovation project, we encounter moments where American industrial capacity and resource wealth altered the trajectory of global history. Among these, few match the sheer scale, complexity, and consequence of June 6, 1944—D-Day.

Operation Neptune was the largest seaborne invasion in military history, establishing the critical foothold needed to liberate Western Europe from N**i occupation. Yet, behind the exceptional bravery of the Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy lay a triumph of logistical mastery and energy deployment. Without an unprecedented, unceasing flow of millions of gallons of fuel, the entire liberation enterprise risked absolute failure.

The Arsenal of Democracy Transports the Atlantic

During the Second World War, the United States produced approximately 60% of the world’s crude oil. Translating this geological and industrial advantage into a strategic military asset required overcoming immense hostile threats:

The Atlantic Lifeline: American tankers braved the deadly gauntlet of German U-boats to deliver vital fuel imports to secure ports in Liverpool, Bristol, Belfast, and Glasgow.

The Secret Network: Once onshore in the United Kingdom, these vast fuel supplies were distributed across the island via a covert, underground pipeline network—the Government Pipelines and Storage System (GPSS)—shielding the lifeblood of the upcoming invasion from the German Luftwaffe.

The Quartermaster Mobilization: Working 24 hours a day, the US Army Quartermaster Corps established massive stockpiles in southern Britain, preparing millions of 5-gallon jerrycans to ensure the invasion force would remain mobile the moment they struck the beaches.

Engineering Marvels: PLUTO and the Red Ball Express
The logistical genius of the Allied forces did not stop at the water's edge. To sustain a rapid, high-tempo push toward Berlin against sabotaged deep-water ports like Cherbourg, the Allies executed unprecedented engineering and logistical feats:

Operation PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean): The world’s first undersea pipeline network, spanning the English Channel. Utilizing highly flexible, high-pressure materials, this 21-line system ultimately pumped 172 million gallons of fuel directly from the UK to the European mainland.

The Red Ball Express: Once fuel breached the French coast, this legendary, round-the-clock convoy system transported petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) directly to the rapidly advancing front lines. By late August 1944, Allied forces were consuming an astonishing 800,000 gallons of gasoline per day—a demand met only through sheer American ingenuity and operational stamina.

The Triumph of Innovation and Freedom

The triumph of D-Day reminds us that modern liberty is undergirded by industrial capability. The resource wealth of the United States, paired with a relentless spirit of innovation and private-sector adaptability, provided the literal fuel that broke the spine of tyranny in Europe.

As we look back on 250 years of American history, we honor not only the strategic brilliance of our military commanders and the valor of our soldiers, but the extraordinary energy infrastructure and logistical innovations that made victory possible.

➡️ To explore more chapters on how American energy shaped the modern world, visit the full project at Fueling250.org.

07/01/2026

🇺🇸 Energy, Innovation, and the American Imperative 🇺🇸

As our nation commemorates the historic milestone of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we are compelled to reflect upon the foundational pillars that undergird the United States’ evolution into a beacon of global prosperity, freedom, and technological dominance. Chief among these pillars is the development of robust, reliable energy infrastructure.

From the reliance on coal to the mastery of oil, natural gas, and nuclear power, America's vast resource wealth has never been mere geological luck. Rather, our triumph lies in the marriage of natural bounty with a socio-political framework that incentivizes human genius, pioneering courage, and free enterprise. Without the innovative mindset of the American entrepreneur, these vital resources would remain dormant beneath our feet.

To honor the visionaries who literally fueled the American Century, the Institute for Energy Research (IER) is launching a definitive series profiling America's "Energy Pioneers."

We begin by examining the extraordinary legacy of Ray Clinton Fish (1902–1962)—the legendary engineer and entrepreneur affectionately known as “Mr. Pipeliner.”

Drawing from Chapter 11 of IER Founder and CEO Robert L. Bradley Jr.’s seminal work, Edison to Enron: Energy Markets and Political Strategies, we track Fish’s rise from a 21-year-old Utah coal miner to the mastermind behind some of the most complex infrastructure projects in global history.

An Engine of Wartime and Postwar Prosperity

The Arsenal of Democracy: During World War II, Fish oversaw the rapid, sub-one-year completion of the 1,265-mile Tennessee Gas pipeline, delivering crucial natural gas from Texas to the manufacturing heartland of Appalachia—a watershed moment that catalyzed the postwar interstate pipeline boom.

Connecting the Continent: Founding the Fish Engineering Corporation in 1946, he went on to design and construct the 1,840-mile Transcontinental Gas Pipeline (the longest in the world at the time), linking the Gulf Coast directly to the Mid-Atlantic and New York City.

Global Innovation: Operating under the motto that “nothing was too difficult or too far,” Fish expanded American engineering prowess internationally, conquering unprecedented geographical challenges from the Pacific Northwest to the Andes.

Ray Fish’s career stands as a masterclass in American exceptionalism and corporate stewardship. By pioneering profit-sharing structures and cultivating a culture of relentless marginal improvement, Fish proved that private enterprise—not state command—is the ultimate vehicle for securing a nation's energy independence. His infrastructure directly accelerated the adoption of natural gas, a legacy that continues to empower millions of Americans today with reliable power and lower emissions.

As we look toward the next chapter of the American experiment, we salute Ray C. Fish: a true patriot, a brilliant engineer, and an American Energy Pioneer.

➡️ Read the full analysis of Ray Fish's enduring legacy here: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/energy-pioneers-ray-c-fish/

06/25/2026

Market Dynamics and Regulatory Impacts on Retail Gasoline Pricing

An economic analysis of the petroleum supply chain reveals that accusations of price gouging during periods of declining crude oil values conflate market fundamentals with corporate misconduct. Economists frequently refer to this asymmetric adjustment as the "rockets and feathers" phenomenon—wherein pump prices surge rapidly in response to rising crude costs but descend slowly when crude prices fall.

Rather than collusion, this asymmetry is driven by operational realities:

⚫ Inventory Lags: Retail gasoline is refined from crude acquired weeks prior. When crude prices drop, retailers must clear existing, higher-cost inventory.

⚫ Forward-Looking Pricing: When crude rises, businesses immediately adjust rates to hedge against anticipated replacement costs.

Empirical evidence from historical Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations demonstrates that price movements reflect global benchmarks and supply chain disruptions rather than anti-competitive behavior. Interventionist policies like windfall-profits taxes risk reducing domestic investment and inducing shortages.

Data suggests that more effective consumer relief could be achieved through regulatory reform. For instance, compliance with the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates adds an estimated 45 cents per gallon to retail fuel as of May 2026, imposing an annual economic burden exceeding $66 billion. Addressing these regulatory overheads offers an empirical path to lowering energy costs, distinct from politically motivated antitrust investigations.

🔗 Read the full economic analysis and data breakdown in the comments below.

06/23/2026

NEW: The United States has gone from the world’s largest oil importer to its largest exporter as the shale revolution revamped U.S. energy production and nearly tripled its oil and liquids production since 2010.

Read the incredible story of American innovation ⬇️

06/19/2026

A group of blue states are joining together to institute a new tax on electricity for families in their states. See what it could mean for you here: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/virginias-residential-electric-rates-will-increase-under-rggi/