We believe smaller government is better government. Stifling regulations and government overreach are constraining free market growth.
Within the energy sector in particular, excessive government interventions have made it impossible for true competition among America’s power sources. The Obama Administration’s energy mandates only add to the bureaucracy, from the Clean Power Plan’s arbitrary rules to the effective ban on new coal power plants. The administration justifies its constraints with its climate agenda, that it knows better than elected officials what’s best for America’s energy future. The reality is these unilateral actions unnecessarily grow the size of government and may not yield environmental benefits.
Government can play a more limited and constructive role by addressing issues the private sector cannot solve on its own: breaking down monopolistic barriers, making investments in public infrastructure, correcting market failures, and driving basic scientific research.
…our basic role is to provide a sound and stable economic and policy environment that will enable our citizens, businesses, and governmental units at all levels to make rational decisions on energy use and production
– President Reagan, July 1981