Americans for Prosperity Launches Major Campaign to Unleash America’s Energy Potential

Sep 2, 2025 by AFP

“Permitting reform is the key to breaking free so that energy production can flourish.”

Arlington, VA – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today announced the launch of a bold, seven-figure national campaign to unleash America’s energy potential by cutting red tape and eliminating counterproductive regulations that are stalling innovation and progress. With the rise of the AI economy, this effort is about more than making energy affordable—it’s about producing the energy necessary to compete for the future.

The campaign will kick off with the launch of a cross-country tour called “The Road to Prosperity.” AFP will hold rallies and events, including many at local energy project sites that have been hit with delays as a result of red tape, to drive support for reform in Washington. Additionally, AFP will be launching the campaign with an ad buy and video message from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

“American energy provides us national security and really leads us to global leadership that the whole world wants to see,” said Leader Scalise. “If you look at the problems holding back American energy, permitting reforms are delaying projects that should take months or weeks, but instead take years because of red tape. I’m working right now on permitting reform legislation to clean up that red tape so we can move projects along further and bring in more innovation and more big projects for American energy … We know the ability America has to unleash American energy if we just get red tape out of the way.”

Key components of the campaign include:

A national energy tour called “The Road to Prosperity” launching in early September, featuring visits to stalled or shelved energy project sites across key states and districts.

Targeted advertising  that highlights the problem of overregulation, underscores the urgency of the moment, and explains why permitting reform is a major part of the solution.

Grassroots events with Members of Congress and local business leaders to spotlight innovative energy projects and connect voters to what’s possible through permitting reform.

Storytelling campaigns to elevate AFP’s vision of energy abundance and why it’s so closely connected to economic prosperity.

The initial ad, “Built Here, Felt Here,” reminds Americans that affordable energy is what powered the economic engine of the 20^th century, but outdated rules and regulations put America at risk of falling behind. Clearing the way to building energy projects in America will also lead to lower costs, more jobs, and stronger communities. Permitting reform isn’t just essential to competing in the global economy, it’s a path to a stronger, more prosperous economy here at home.

“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have recognized for years that America’s energy potential is being held back by unnecessary self-imposed federal regulations,” said AFP Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner. “What Washington didn’t recognize is how quickly technology and innovation would make solving this problem mission critical for our economy and global competitiveness. Leader Scalise is exactly right to make this a major priority this fall and we look forward to working with him to drive support in Congress and in key districts to get it done.”

“America is at a crossroads,” said Faith Burns, AFP’s Energy Policy Fellow. “For too long, Washington has imposed needless barriers to American energy production that have driven up costs and undercut supply. We need to produce, refine, and distribute significantly more energy—and do so quickly. With average energy projects taking four years to get approval to even start – and some taking longer – the shackles that keep our energy supply locked down need to be removed. Congress has the key that can unlock those chains so that our domestic supply can keep pace with innovation that is moving at the speed of AI.”

“If we don’t meet this moment, the increasing demands on our energy supply – including the power demands on our electricity grid – will continue to burden our economy. Energy is the foundation of our economy and American families and businesses need relief,” Burns continued. “We can’t afford to wait any longer to fix this problem – permitting reform is the key to breaking free so that energy production can flourish.”

The campaign comes at a time of growing bipartisan interest in Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reform this fall. AFP is seizing the opportunity to shape the national conversation and drive legislative action that will permanently remove barriers to energy production and infrastructure development.

AFP’s “Road to Prosperity” will run through the fall and will be urging the House to take up permitting reform legislation by the end of 2025 and set the stage for Senate action in 2026.

For more information, visit www.ProsperityisPossible.org.