Center of the American Experiment
Background
The Center of the American Experiment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that describes itself as “Minnesota’s leading public policy organization” that “crafts and proposes creative solutions that emphasize free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility and government accountability.” Mitch Pearlstein founded the Center in 1990.1“About Center of the American Experiment,” Center of the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/W79CM 2“Mitch Pearlstein,” Center for the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/lRkyT
SourceWatch describes the Center for the American Experiment (CAE) as a “right-wing pressure group” that seeks to influence legislation in Minnesota. CAE is also a member of the State Policy Network, a network of conservative think tanks funded by the Koch brothers and fighting for limited government and regularly opposing climate change legislation in the US.3“Center of the American Experiment,” SourceWatch. Accessed October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2iFMX 4“Center for the American Experiment,” State Policy Network. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/e8mpP
CAE‘s president, John Hinderaker, who runs the conservative blog Power Line, was named the Center’s president in 2016. Some notable contributors at CAE include Steven Hayward, who also contributes at Power Line, as well as the Heartland Institute‘s Isaac Orr.5Ricardo Lopez. “Conservative blogger, attorney takes helm of Center of the American Experiment,” Star Tribune, January 17, 2016. Archived October 20, 2017.
Stance on Climate Change
November 5, 2016
Peter Zeller, Director of Operations at the Center of the American Experiment, wrote a blog post titled “Climate Change 101.” In a section entitled “Basic climate science,” he declared:6“Climate Change 101,” Center of the American Experiment, November 5, 2016. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/ilijl
“Simply put, substantial scientific evidence exists that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has exaggerated the amount of warming likely to occur, and that any warming that does occur is likely to be modest and cause no net harm to the environment or human well-being.
Warming, cooling, and change are natural features of climate. Climate is always changing: Global temperatures are rising or falling, sea levels are rising or falling, and glaciers are retreating or advancing. […]”
Under a section titled “Is CO2 Causing Temperatures To Rise?”:
“It’s tough to separate out human activity from natural variability and other causes, but most scientists believe increased CO2 levels play a part in the gradual warming we have experienced. CO2 is a trace gas (only .04% of the atmosphere) and has been steadily rising since 1940 thanks to increasing industrialization and the world’s use of coal, oil, and natural gas.
“But temperature changes since 1910 have not correlated with the rise of CO2, and historical data show CO2 levels lagging temperature changes, not leading them. And some studies suggest solar activity correlates much better with global temperatures.”
Under the heading “Failed Computer Models”:
“Model simulations predict that increased CO2 should lead to higher temperatures, but nearly all the models have significantly overestimated observed temperatures.”
[…]
“The bottom line is that our climate is a very complex system, influenced by many little-understood mechanisms and dynamics involving the sun, clouds, oceans, etc.”
Zeller wrote about the supposed “Unreported Benefits of CO2”, saying:
“CO2 is hardly a pollutant. The opposite is true: It’s a raw material that makes life possible for both plants and animals. […]”
According to Zeller, “Mild Warming is Good for the World!” Citing Matthew Ridley, a noted climate change skeptic and zoologist with no background in climate science:
“British scientist Matt Ridley recently wrote about a fundamentally important point that very few have heard about: The consensus of expert opinion is that warming does more good than harm. Imagine that! Why have we not heard about this?”
Zeller concludes:
“For our part, American Experiment will continue making the case that economic growth and expanded prosperity are the surest path to lifting the world’s poor and protecting the environment.”
Funding
The following is based on information compiled from publicly available 990 forms the Conservative Transparency’s database. Note that not all individual funding values have been verified by DeSmog.7“Center of the American Experiment,” Conservative Transparency. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
View the attached spreadsheet for details on Center for the American Experiment’s funding by year (.xlsx).
| Donor | Total |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | $380,000 |
| The Roe Foundation | $245,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | $238,650 |
| Caridad Corporation | $236,550 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | $235,350 |
| Jaquelin Hume Foundation | $185,000 |
| Donors Capital Fund | $182,000 |
| Hendry Family Foundation | $132,500 |
| Leonette M & Fred T Lanners Foundation | $114,500 |
| DonorsTrust | $110,121 |
| JM Foundation | $105,000 |
| State Policy Network | $100,700 |
| Searle Freedom Trust | $100,000 |
| Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation | $70,000 |
| Marbob Group | $70,000 |
| The Bader Family Foundation | $63,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | $59,650 |
| Mightycause (formerly Razoo) Foundation | $51,494 |
| The K Foundation | $51,050 |
| Adolph Coors Foundation | $50,000 |
| WEM 2000 Foundation | $50,000 |
| Head Family Foundation | $38,500 |
| Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | $31,500 |
| Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation | $31,000 |
| Chiaroscuro Foundation | $30,000 |
| Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund | $28,460 |
| Bodman Foundation | $25,000 |
| Walton Family Foundation | $25,000 |
| Americans for Lawful Unionism | $20,000 |
| San Antonio Area Foundation Group Return | $19,443 |
| The US Charitable Gift Trust | $13,500 |
| National Philanthropic Trust | $11,750 |
| Schwab Charitable Fund | $11,300 |
| Ronald and Janet Schutz Family Foundation | $11,250 |
| Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota | $6,000 |
| Nicholson Family Foundation | $4,600 |
| Ken and Betty Dahlberg Foundation | $3,000 |
| Mick and Sandy Lee Family Foundation | $2,500 |
| Jim and Diane McCarthy Foundation | $2,500 |
| Prudential Foundation | $2,500 |
| Colegato Foundation | $2,000 |
| Alfred W Erickson Foundation | $2,000 |
| Daniel J Spiegel Family Foundation | $1,200 |
| R Keith Cullinan Family Foundation | $1,000 |
| Grand Total | $3,154,568 |
Center of the American Experiment 990 Forms
American Experiment Foundation 990 Forms
A group with the same listed address as CAE and with the listed mission “to raise additional contributions and support the mission of the Center of the American Interest” was created in 2019:
Key People
View key people by year below, or view the attached spreadsheet for a full list of the Center of the American Experiment’s key people (.xlsx) including sources.
Actions
2021
CAE appears to behind the website GreenEnergyFails.com, which urges citizens to contact their legislators to oppose renewable energy in Texas and California.8“Demand Reliable Energy!” GreenEnergyFails.com. Archived March 1, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/LEGhB
“Texas and California bought into wind and solar energy, but when they needed electricity the most, their residents were left in the dark,” the website read, repeating similar claims to what Reuters fact checkers described as “misleading.” Numerous other sources have also identified claims that wind turbines and solar energy were primarily to blame for power outages across Texas were false.9“Fact check: The causes for Texas’ blackout go well beyond wind turbines,” Reuters, February 19, 2021. Archived March 19, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XRTlz
The campaign also appears to have included billboards.
April 6, 2020
Center of the American Experiment, represented by Isaac Orr, was signatory to an American Energy Alliance letter to President Donald Trump supporting the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule which would scrap federal fuel economy mandates under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.10CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF), American Energy Alliance.
Describing CAFE, the letter contends: “Those families and individuals who prefer or need trucks, SUVs, and crossovers pay more to subsidize those who buy smaller vehicles or electric vehicles under the existing mandate. This significant, needless, and unjust cost is a very real regressive tax on American families that has made our country worse off.”11CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF), American Energy Alliance.
March 23, 2020
As reported at DeSmog, Life:Powered sent a letter to Congress critical of the COVID-19 stimulus package for including “tax incentives and spending for unreliable ‘green’ energy
programs.”12Dana Drugmand. “Under Cover of Pandemic, Fossil Fuel Interests Unleash Lobbying Frenzy,” DeSmog, April 2, 2020. 13Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
The letter, to which the Center of the American Experiment is a signatory, concludes:14Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“This is no time for political games. Climate change is not an immediate threat to humanity. Climate-related deaths have declined 98.9% in the last century, and humanity is growing more and more resilient thanks to the availability of affordable, reliable energy. On behalf of all Americans, we urge you to oppose any stimulus proposals that carve out special treatment for or bail out any energy companies and focus instead on stopping COVID-19.”15Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
The full list of signatories is below:16Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
May 9, 2019
The Center of the American Experiment, represented by Isaac Orr, signed on to an open letter organized by the American Energy Alliance designed to fight against an electric vehicle tax credit.17“Dear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:” May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.
“The American Energy Alliance has organized a coalition to proclaim in one unified voice that there should be no expansion of the misguided electric vehicle tax credit,” Thomas Pyle wrote in a statement, quoted at The Daily Caller. “There is no question that the electric vehicle tax credit distorts the auto market to no gain.”18Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
According to Pyle and others who signed the letter, electric vehicle tax credits “overwhelmingly benefit the rich.” DeSmog’s Koch vs. Clean project has systematically debunked this, among other well-rehearsed talking points and misinformation put forward by industry about electric vehicles.19Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
The letter cites research by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a group that has received over $600,000 from ExxonMobil and millions from “dark money” groups DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund.
March 12, 2018
Heartland Institute research fellow Isaac Orr wrote his first article at the Center of the American Experiment. Orr’s article promoted copper and nickel mining in Minnesota, suggesting pushing forward two mines—Twin Metals and PolyMet—that were waiting on approval. “These two mines would not only have significant employment impacts, they would also make the United States less dependent upon foreign sources of copper and nickel,” Orr wrote.20“Minnesota’s Copper and Nickel Deposits are World Class,” Center of the American Experiment, March 12, 2018. Archived March 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/FqiI5
October 10, 2017
Steven Hayward was co-author of a report written for the Center of the American Experiment critical of wind power in Minnesota. While the full report does not explicitly promote a fall back to coal-fired power plants, it claims that Minnesota has “little to show” for its investment in wind power, “except higher electricity bills.”21Don Davis. “Is wind power living up to potential? Conservative groups says no, supporters disagree,” Brainerd Dispatch, October 10, 2017. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zJm5l 22“Energy Policy in Minnesota: The High Cost of Failure” (PDF), October 19, 2017.
“Minnesota is actually failing to achieve the object of its policy, which is to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Hayward.23Don Davis. “Is wind power living up to potential? Conservative groups says no, supporters disagree,” Brainerd Dispatch, October 10, 2017. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zJm5l
March 6, 2008
The Center of the American Experiment hosted Margo Thorning on their forum to discuss “the real economic costs” of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.24“Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: What Are the Real Economic Costs?” Center of the American Experiment, March 6, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/ULTJX
“Economist Margo Thorning discusses the likely consequences of Minnesota’s proposed Climate Mitigation Action Plan on employment, household income, and new investments in the state. She also talks about the likely economic and environmental effects of bills currently before Congress, including the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. And Dr. Thorning will suggest cost-effective approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, across the United States, and around the planet,” the description reads.
Listen to the audio below:
June 4, 2007
CAE hosted climate change denier John R. Christy in a talk titled “Searching for Climate Change: A More Temperate Take on Global Warming.” Audio below.25“Searching for Climate Change: A More Temperate Take on Global Warming,” Center of the American Experiment, June 4, 2007. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/4c0uI
January 5, 1998
David Riggs wrote a three-part series on global warming at the CAE. Riggs was the executive director of Green Watch, a project run by the conservative think-tank the Capital Research Center. CRC has been funded by conservative foundations including Scaife, and large oil companies such as ExxonMobil.26“Global Warming: Part I Divided Scienceand Unfounded Policy,” Center for the American Experiment, January 5, 1998. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/nkQTI 27“Capital Research Center,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed October 18, 2015.
In the first part of his series, Riggs claimed to cover “an overview of general scientific issues,” In Part II “the economic consequences of greenhouse gas emission-reduction policy will be addressed, with special emphasis placed on why Minnesotans should care about the Kyoto treaty” and Part III “will look at why a global climate treaty is emerging and what a reasonable course of action should be to potential global climate change”:28“Global Warming: Part I Divided Scienceand Unfounded Policy,” Center for the American Experiment, January 5, 1998. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/nkQTI
- Global Warming: Part I Divided Science and Unfounded Policy
- Global Warming: Part II Footing the Bill
- Global Warming: Part III Haste or Hardiness?
Related Organizations
- State Policy Network (SPN) — Member.29“Center for the American Experiment,” State Policy Network. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/e8mpP
Contact & Address
Address30“About Center of the American Experiment,” Center of the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/W79CM
8421 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 110
Golden Valley, MN 55426Phone:
(612) 338-3605
Social Media
- @AmericanExperiment on Facebook.
- @MNThinkTank on Twitter.
Other Resources
- “Center of the American Experiment,” Sourcewatch.
- “Center of the American Experiment,” Wikipedia.
Resources
- 1“About Center of the American Experiment,” Center of the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/W79CM
- 2“Mitch Pearlstein,” Center for the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/lRkyT
- 3“Center of the American Experiment,” SourceWatch. Accessed October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2iFMX
- 4“Center for the American Experiment,” State Policy Network. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/e8mpP
- 5Ricardo Lopez. “Conservative blogger, attorney takes helm of Center of the American Experiment,” Star Tribune, January 17, 2016. Archived October 20, 2017.
- 6“Climate Change 101,” Center of the American Experiment, November 5, 2016. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/ilijl
- 7“Center of the American Experiment,” Conservative Transparency. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- 8“Demand Reliable Energy!” GreenEnergyFails.com. Archived March 1, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/LEGhB
- 9“Fact check: The causes for Texas’ blackout go well beyond wind turbines,” Reuters, February 19, 2021. Archived March 19, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XRTlz
- 10CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF), American Energy Alliance.
- 11CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF), American Energy Alliance.
- 12Dana Drugmand. “Under Cover of Pandemic, Fossil Fuel Interests Unleash Lobbying Frenzy,” DeSmog, April 2, 2020.
- 13Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 14Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 15Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 16Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 17“Dear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:” May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.
- 18Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
- 19Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
- 20“Minnesota’s Copper and Nickel Deposits are World Class,” Center of the American Experiment, March 12, 2018. Archived March 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/FqiI5
- 21Don Davis. “Is wind power living up to potential? Conservative groups says no, supporters disagree,” Brainerd Dispatch, October 10, 2017. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zJm5l
- 22“Energy Policy in Minnesota: The High Cost of Failure” (PDF), October 19, 2017.
- 23Don Davis. “Is wind power living up to potential? Conservative groups says no, supporters disagree,” Brainerd Dispatch, October 10, 2017. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zJm5l
- 24“Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: What Are the Real Economic Costs?” Center of the American Experiment, March 6, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/ULTJX
- 25“Searching for Climate Change: A More Temperate Take on Global Warming,” Center of the American Experiment, June 4, 2007. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/4c0uI
- 26“Global Warming: Part I Divided Scienceand Unfounded Policy,” Center for the American Experiment, January 5, 1998. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/nkQTI
- 27“Capital Research Center,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed October 18, 2015.
- 28“Global Warming: Part I Divided Scienceand Unfounded Policy,” Center for the American Experiment, January 5, 1998. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/nkQTI
- 29“Center for the American Experiment,” State Policy Network. Archived October 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/e8mpP
- 30“About Center of the American Experiment,” Center of the American Experiment. Archived April 17, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/W79CM
