AEI is a non-profit research organization that focuses on public policy issues related to energy, economics, and the environment. The organization was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AEI conducts research, publishes books and articles, and hosts events and conferences to promote its ideas and influence public policy. The organization has a reputation for being conservative and libertarian in its views, and has been influential in shaping policy debates on issues such as climate change, energy regulation, and tax policy.