Power America
Fuel Freedom. Power America.
MISSION
Affordable, reliable power is the predicate for modern American prosperity because energy is the industry that powers every other industry. It is also the first precondition for a strong national defense, as a strong defense-industrial base is built on a strong commercial-industrial base. Through the Power America Campaign, our policy experts will work at all levels of government for solutions that will stop the attack on reliable energy, bring dispatchable resources such as coal, natural gas, and fission energy onto the grid, and power the next wave of innovation in nuclear power, batteries, and refining.
Focus Areas / Policy Pillars
- Affordable Energy – We will work to ensure that families and businesses have the cost-effective energy they need to thrive. No excessive taxes, ideology-driven “fees,” or woke “social-cost” metrics.
- Reliable Energy – Extreme circumstances that threaten power supplies are also the times when power is most needed. We will work to ensure that Americans get the power they need, when they need it, by rewarding reliability and penalizing unreliability.
- Energy Innovation – Technologies like hydraulic fracturing and liquified natural gas changed the story of energy dependence to American energy dominance --- we believe that government should keep its finger off the scales and let American ingenuity drive the next series of game-changing advancements.
- Supercharge Production – America is a nation of builders, not bottlenecks. Remove barriers in permitting, leasing, and infrastructure so American producers can invest, hire, and deliver best-of-the-above energy.
- End the Green New Deal – We will do everything in our power to end mandates, subsidies, taxes, and schemes that pick winners and punish reliable power under the guise of “climate policy.”
Team
Ted Ellis
Campaign Director, Power America and Deputy Director, Energy and Environment
Jason Hayes
Director, Energy and Environment
David Vasquez
Senior Policy Analyst, American Prosperity and Energy & Environment
Oliver McPherson-Smith,Ph.D
Vice Chair, Energy & Environment
Ambassador Carla Sands
Chair, Foreign Policy Initiative & Senior Fellow for Energy Policy
Latest
Commentary
|
January 11, 2026
Energy Dominance: Lowering Costs Powering the Future
The number on the gas station sign says it all: $2.97 per gallon. For the first time in four years, that price will be a reality for the average American in 2026, according to GasBuddy’s report released Tuesday. This is the expected result of a clear shift in how our leaders approach energy: a return to American energy abundance.
Statement
|
January 7, 2026
One Year Since California Palisades Disaster: State Government Mismanagement Continues
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic Palisades fire in California, which destroyed 23,700 acres and damaged over 6,800 structures. The damage and pain have not ceased as America-last policies continue to harm those in the Golden State. Former CA Congressman Mike Garcia, Chairman of America First California, issued the following statement.
Fact Sheet
|
December 18, 2025
Setting the Bearings for A Rocky Road Ahead
On October 10, 2025, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced new export controls for both critical minerals[1] (CMs) and rare earth elements[2] (REEs). The CCP implemented a new rule that specifies exports that are used in U.S. military equipment, or those with dual-use applications for military assets, even those containing as little as 0.1% of REEs, are prohibited from being sent to the United States. In response, the Trump Administration moved to secure the United States' national security interests by proposing a 100% tariff on all Chinese goods by November 1, 2025. After Chairman Xi and President Trump met at APEC 2025, China announced that it would delay its export controls for a year, with the U.S. agreeing to do the same on its tariffs.
Op-Ed
|
December 16, 2025
State Agency Overreach Harms Michigan’s Farms and Businesses
Michigan’s farmers and rural landowners are the backbone of the state’s economy and identity. They provide food, jobs, and a way of life that has helped define America’s heartland. At America First Policy Institute, we champion policies that put these producers first. But Michigan’s farmers argue that state agencies’ actions reveal a troubling pattern of flexing regulatory muscle rather than protecting the environment or supporting Michigan’s rural communities.
Op-Ed
|
December 10, 2025
Want Cheaper Gas? End California’s Special Recipe
Every Californian knows the feeling of dread at the gas pump. As prices climb past five, six, or even seven dollars a gallon, we are told it’s the fault of distant wars or greedy oil companies. If only that were true. The fact is that California’s sky-high gas prices are a self-inflicted wound, the direct result of state policies that intentionally make our fuel supply expensive, fragile, and artificially scarce.