American Competitiveness

CRES Issue Priorities 

To measure successful climate action, we must look at global emissions. Thanks largely to cutting-edge innovation, investment to increase the U.S. carbon advantage, and a commitment to clean energy technologies, the United States leads the world in emissions reductions. But there is still work to be done. CRES’ mission is to engage as many U.S. policymakers and the public to embrace an all-of-the-above energy approach, which would strengthen America’s leadership, boost local economies, secure strong domestic supply chains, and protect our planet.  

American Competitiveness

While the United States is leading the world in emissions reductions, China’s and developing nation’s emissions continue to rise. By increasing American energy production and implementing an all-of-the-above energy approach, the U.S. will continue to not only be a global leader in reducing emissions, but also provide goods and energy for the rest of world, support economic growth and enhance security for America and our allies.

Current low-carbon energy sources, including renewable resources and nuclear energy, are on track to account for one-fourth of American energy production. As these and emerging innovative technologies, such as carbon capture, continue to be developed, the U.S. should continue to develop all other domestic energy resources, to meet both domestic and global energy demands. Doing so will increase our energy security and also help to reduce global emissions, as the US is among the world’s most carbon efficient producers.

Reducing American reliance on adversarial nations by developing more secure domestic supply chains, including for the materials needed to produce clean energy technologies, is critical to reduce global emissions, advance national security and achieve domestic manufacturing goals.

U.S. industry is at the forefront of deploying innovative technologies to reduce hard –to-abate emissions while securing strong domestic supply chains, creating American jobs, and contributing to local economies.

Policies that strengthen the global competitiveness of carbon efficient producers, such as the United States, will reduce global emissions. Capitalizing on America’s carbon advantage requires reliable metrics and measurements.

Continued over-reliance on geopolitical rivals for our energy supply chain has exposed the US to growing risk and economic vulnerability. Developing the critical minerals and resources needed for our energy needs, including clean energy technologies (EV batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear reactors, and more), in the United States is safer, cleaner, and more ethical.

June 7, 2023
ExxonMobil and Nucor recently announced a new partnership to capture, transport, and store 800,000 metric tons of CO2 per year from Nucor’s steel manufacturing plant in Louisiana.   Nucor’s plant produces direct reduced iron, a raw material used to make high-quality steel products like cars and appliances. This agreement will not only support Louisiana’s objective of …

ExxonMobil and Nucor Enter Partnership to Reduce Carbon Emissions Read More


January 31, 2023
Industrial emissions have been steadily on the rise and could soon exceed emissions in the power sector as it continues its successful decarbonization efforts. As demand for industrial commodities grows in developing nations, it matters where these goods are produced. In the U.S., manufactured products are 40% more carbon efficient than the world average. Therefore, …

Issue Brief: Reducing Industrial Emissions Read More


September 26, 2022
The key to making the most of zero-carbon electricity When the energy produced by renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels or wind turbines exceeds demand, which often happens during Spring and Summer months when there is abundant sunshine, that output is reduced, or curtailed. In short, these resources are taken offline. The production of …

Issue Brief: Long-Duration Energy Storage Read More


May 16, 2022
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum today released the fifth installment of CRES Forum’s white paper series: “U.S. Plastics Manufacturing Offers Opportunities for Global Emissions Reductionism,” authored by George David Banks, CRES Forum Policy Fellow. CRES Forum’s white paper series, “Understanding the Facts,” aims to lay out a foundation for conservative solutions to today’s …

New Analysis from CRES Forum’s Dave Banks Highlights U.S. Plastics Industry as a Model for Global Emissions Reductions Read More


May 2, 2022
Key Findings The U.S. plastics industry is a major contributor to the American economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. American industry has been a global leader in plastics production, which reduces food waste and improves energy efficiency in transport, compared to substitutes that would be used to perform the same economic function. Global demand …

U.S. Plastics Manufacturing Offers Opportunities for Global Emissions Read More


April 2, 2022
This briefing paper is part of the Understanding the Facts Series that provide background information on why and how conservatives should lead on climate change policy. The issues and approaches are rooted in CRES Forum’s Conservative Climate Policy Directives, which were developed to help policymakers and the public better understand which policies can reduce emissions …

Power Sector Innovation Reduces Emissions and Lowers Costs Read More


March 2, 2022
SUMMARY To achieve the global climate objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global energy consumption must transition to net zero emissions by 2050. Models for achieving this outcome often assume a complete replacement of fossil fuels with renewable and clean energy sources, as well as vehicle electrification. Compared …

Foreign Mineral Supply Chain Dependence Threatens U.S. National Security Read More


March 2, 2022
This briefing paper is part of CRES Forum’s Understanding the Facts Series, providing substantive background information on why and how conservatives should lead on climate change policy. The issues and approaches are rooted in CRES Forum’s Conservative Climate Policy Directives. These directives were developed to help policymakers and the public better understand how policies can …

U.S. Fossil Fuels Should Play a Crucial Role in Reducing Global Emissions Read More


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