Jerry Taylor co-founded the Niskanen Center. Prior to founding the Center in 2014, Taylor spent 23 years at the Cato Institute, where he served as director of natural resource studies, assistant editor of Regulation magazine, senior fellow, and then vice president. Before that, Taylor was the staff director for the energy and environment task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Over the past two decades, Mr. Taylor has been one of the prominent and influential libertarian voices in energy policy in Washington. He has authored numerous policy studies, and has testified often before Congress.  Mr. Taylor has been routinely featured in prominent media outlets, including: The New Yorker, The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Vox, New York Magazine, CNN, CQ Roll Call, and Politico.