American Energy Institute (AEI)
Background
The American Energy Institute (AEI) is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by former Texas State Representative Jason Isaac in 2015.1“Certificate of Formation of Nonprofit Corporation – Texas Natural Gas Foundation,” Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, March 16, 2015. filename: 596350250002. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Originating as the Texas Natural Gas Foundation, the organization operated under that name until 2023, when it became the American Energy Institute.2“Certificate of Amendment – Texas Natural Gas Foundation,” Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, February 25, 2023. filename: 1225090600002. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEI states that its mission is to “inform the national discussion about energy and the environment, as well as advocate for policies that promote economic freedom and advance the human condition.”3“Home,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 09, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEI launched an affiliated 501(c)6 trade association in 2024, the American Energy Association (AEA). The AEA’s membership is mainly comprised of fossil fuel companies. The AEA describes itself as a “trade organization representing American energy producers, suppliers, and affiliated businesses that support free markets,” with a mission to “liberate American energy to advance the human condition.”4“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Working together, AEI and AEA utilize policy briefs, reports, advocacy, and PR campaigns to “unapologetically” promote fossil fuels and counter what they allege to be “misinformation” from climate groups.5“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. The organization’s website argues that, “Anti-Energy, Green New Deal activists have brought an increasing disconnect between public assumptions and reality when it comes to energy and environmental policy.”6“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEI was founded by Jason Isaac in 2015 while he was actively serving as a lawmaker. Isaac, who refers to himself as the “Carbon King” on his personal Substack blog, had ties to fossil-fuel-backed industry groups prior to founding AEI and AEA.“7Jason Isaac,” Substack. Archived June 3, 2026. Archived .pdf on file on DeSmog. Isaac was a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) while he was a lawmaker, an organization that links state legislators with corporations and creates templates for state legislation. According to the Center for Media and Democracy, Isaac was a member as early as 2014.8“American Legislative Exchange Council, Letter to Google, signatory letter to Google”, American Legislative Exchange Council, September 24, 2014. Archived March 11, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 9Surgey, Nick. “New ALEC membership lists names more legislators tied to the group,” Documented, June 6, 2019. Archived May 6, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 10“ALEC CIED Task Force Public Sector Members.” DocumentCloud, June 3, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Shortly before leaving public office in 2019, Isaac moved directly into his role as director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s energy campaign, Life:Powered.11“Fmr. Rep. Jason (Carbon King) Isaac,” LinkedIn. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a conservative think tank based in Austin, Texas.
The boards of AEI and AEA feature a mix of oil and gas sector companies and figures from key pro-fossil fuel industry think tanks.12“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEI’s board includes climate denier Steve Milloy, who is also a board member at the Heartland Institute.13“American Energy Institute 2024 form 990,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEA board member and oil executive, Ernest Angelo, sits on the board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.14“Board of Directors,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. Archived February 14, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
AEA’s board also includes Liberty Energy, an oil company owned by former fracking executive and Trump administration Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.15“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
In 2015, the same year AEI was founded, Jason Isaac also started a public relations firm, Velocity Elevation, LLC. According to the firm, its goal is to “assist businesses in eliminating politically driven agendas like DEI, ESG, Net Zero, and other divisive outside influences, ensuring that company policies and initiatives are solely focused on achieving financial objectives and improving the bottom line.”16Velocity Elevation, LLC, LinkedIn. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Ties to Leonard Leo
AEI has ties to conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society’s former Executive Vice President and co-chair.17“Leonard A. Leo,” The Federalist Society. Archived February 16, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Known as the Trump “court whisperer” during the president’s first term in office, Leo has been credited with orchestrating the conservative majority of the Supreme Court.18Jonaki Mehta and Courtney Dorning. “One man’s outsized role in shaping the Supreme Court and overturning Roe,” NPR, June 30, 2022. Archived November 1, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
According to the tax filings of the 85 Fund, a nonprofit in Leo’s network, 85 Fund donated $125,000 to the American Energy Institute in 2023.19“85 Fund 2023 990,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
In August of 2024, AEI released a report alleging that the Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project, the nonprofit organization’s project to provide judges with “evidence-based judicial education about climate science and how it arises in the law,”20“About CJP,” Environmental Law Project. Archived August 9, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. was “corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science.”21“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Reporting by The Guardian found that AEI’s report was linked to a PR firm, CRC Advisors, which is chaired by conservative legal activist Leonard Leo.22“Leonard Leo,” Napa Legal. Archived May 20, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. As The Guardian reported, “[t]he AEI report’s document properties show that its author was Maggie Howell, director of branding and design at CRC Advisors. And the PowerPoint’s document properties lists CRC Advisors’ vice-president, Kevin Daley, as the author.”23Dharna Noor and Alice Herman. “Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate,” The Guardian, September 29, 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. CRC Advisors is a Virginia-based public relations firm known for working with high-profile right-wing clients, as well as fossil fuel companies such as oil major Chevron.
AEI’s report pointed to “reports” published by “watchdog group” Alliance for Consumers, which is part of an organization called the Concord Fund, formerly known as the Judicial Crisis Network, both projects of Leo.24Emily Sanders. “Big Oil Rallies to Obstruct Accountability,” DeSmog, July 19, 2024.
Jason Isaac responded to the reporting by acknowledging that the “American Energy Institute employed CRC Advisors to edit and promote our groundbreaking report on the corrupt relationship between our federal court system and left[-]wing dark money groups.”25Dharna Noor and Alice Herman. “Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate,” The Guardian, September 29, 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Stance on Climate Change
The AEA describes itself as “dedicated to combating misinformation” that it claims is being spread by “Anti-Energy, Green New Deal activists.”26“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
In August of 2024, AEI released a report alleging that the Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project, the nonprofit organization’s project to provide judges with “evidence-based judicial education about climate science and how it arises in the law,”27“About CJP,” Environmental Law Project. Archived August 9, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. was “corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science.”28“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
The report also said that the CJP was “falsely portraying itself as a neutral entity teaching judges about debatable climate science.” It added that the CJP had partnered with public plaintiffs to sue energy providers over climate change, and that:29“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“…the climate change cases enlist far left jurisdictions to pursue damages in tort that will destroy energy providers or fundamentally change their business practices and product offerings. If the plaintiffs prevail, they will conscript industry into foisting electric appliances, garish lightbulbs, and other progressive amenities into every home.”
Funding
DeSmog has compiled the following totals from publicly available 990 tax filings:
American Energy Institute as Recipient
| Donor | 2023 | 2024 | Grand Total |
| Donors Trust Inc | $250,000 | $475,000 | $725,000 |
| The 85 Fund | $125,000 | $125,000 | |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Grand Total | $375,000 | $500,000 | $875,000 |
American Energy Institute as Donor
| Recipient | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | Grand Total |
| BARBERS HILL ISD | $220,000 | $220,000 | ||
| PASADENA ISD | $110,000 | $110,000 | ||
| HUMBLE ISD | $61,435 | $61,435 | ||
| DENTON ISD | $55,000 | $55,000 | ||
| LEANDER ISD | $22,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Orange Grove ISD | $5,434 | $5,434 | ||
| Grand Total | $5,434 | $61,435 | $407,000 | $473,869 |
990 Forms
Key People
American Energy Institute Key People
The American Energy Institute listed the following people on its publicly available 990 tax submissions:30“American Energy Institute,” ProPublica. Accessed April 2, 2026. Archived .pdfs on file at DeSmog.
| Name | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | Description |
| Lindsey Miller | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Board Member |
| Jason Isaac | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | President |
| Mary Love | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Vice President |
| Ken Morgan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Secretary |
| Caleb Troxclair | 1 | 1 | Board Member | ||
| Steve Milloy | 1 | 1 | Board Member |
American Energy Association Key People
The AEA listed the following directors and key employees people on its 2024 tax return:31”Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2024,” American Energy Association. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
| Name | Description |
| Jason Isaac | President |
| Bud Brigham | Vice President |
| Jeff Sparks | Treasurer |
| John Mabee | Secretary |
The AEA has also listed its board members on its website:32“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived August 19, 2024. 33“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived February 28, 2025. 34“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived August 13, 2026.
| Name | Title | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Bud Brigham | Atlas Energy | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jason Isaac | American Energy Institute | 1 | ||
| Jeff Sparks | Discovery Operating | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| John Mabee | Mabee Ranch | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tracy Marshall | Greenville Partners LLC | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Related Organizations
- American Energy Association (AEA) — Trade association and sister organization to AEI.35“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Contact & Address
The AEI listed the following address on its 2024 tax filing:36“American Energy Institute: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2024,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
13501 RANCH ROAD 12
STE 103
WIMBERLEY, TX 78676
Ph: (512) 815-2207
Social Media
- 4AmericanEnergy on Facebook.
- @4americanenergy on X.
- 4americanenergy on Instagram.
- @AmericanEnergyInstitute on YouTube.
Resources
- 1“Certificate of Formation of Nonprofit Corporation – Texas Natural Gas Foundation,” Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, March 16, 2015. filename: 596350250002. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 2“Certificate of Amendment – Texas Natural Gas Foundation,” Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, February 25, 2023. filename: 1225090600002. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 3“Home,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 09, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 4“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 5“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 6“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 7Jason Isaac,” Substack. Archived June 3, 2026. Archived .pdf on file on DeSmog.
- 8“American Legislative Exchange Council, Letter to Google, signatory letter to Google”, American Legislative Exchange Council, September 24, 2014. Archived March 11, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 9Surgey, Nick. “New ALEC membership lists names more legislators tied to the group,” Documented, June 6, 2019. Archived May 6, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 10“ALEC CIED Task Force Public Sector Members.” DocumentCloud, June 3, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 11“Fmr. Rep. Jason (Carbon King) Isaac,” LinkedIn. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 12“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 13“American Energy Institute 2024 form 990,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 14“Board of Directors,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. Archived February 14, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 15“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 16Velocity Elevation, LLC, LinkedIn. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 17“Leonard A. Leo,” The Federalist Society. Archived February 16, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 18Jonaki Mehta and Courtney Dorning. “One man’s outsized role in shaping the Supreme Court and overturning Roe,” NPR, June 30, 2022. Archived November 1, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 19“85 Fund 2023 990,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 20“About CJP,” Environmental Law Project. Archived August 9, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 21“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 22“Leonard Leo,” Napa Legal. Archived May 20, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 23Dharna Noor and Alice Herman. “Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate,” The Guardian, September 29, 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 24Emily Sanders. “Big Oil Rallies to Obstruct Accountability,” DeSmog, July 19, 2024.
- 25Dharna Noor and Alice Herman. “Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate,” The Guardian, September 29, 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 26“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 27“About CJP,” Environmental Law Project. Archived August 9, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 28“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 29“The Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) is corruptly influencing the courts and destroying the rule of law to promote questionable climate science,” American Energy Institute, August 2024. Archived April 15, 2026. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 30“American Energy Institute,” ProPublica. Accessed April 2, 2026. Archived .pdfs on file at DeSmog.
- 31”Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2024,” American Energy Association. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 32“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived August 19, 2024.
- 33“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived February 28, 2025.
- 34“The American Energy Association,” American Energy Institute. Archived August 13, 2026.
- 35“Association,” American Energy Institute, Archived February 28, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 36“American Energy Institute: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2024,” ProPublica. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
