Twenty-five Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday slamming the administration's move to suspend exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Biden announced Friday that he would suspend exports of liquefied natural gas pending a decision to address the alleged climate crisis.
Biden said the agency will examine “the impact of LNG exports on energy costs, U.S. energy security, and the environment.” This suspension of new LNG approvals shows that the climate crisis is truly an existential threat of our time. ”
“MAGA Republicans are intentionally denying the urgency of the climate crisis and pushing Americans into a dangerous future, but my administration will not be complacent. We will not concede to special interests.” the president added.
25 Senate Republicans prompted Biden called for the plan to be scrapped, saying it would destroy the economy and national security.
“This LNG plan, drafted without input from Congress, could have significant economic, environmental, and national security impacts domestically and globally. “It would be reckless to jeopardize our nation's pre-eminence, especially in a world where energy is frequently used as a geopolitical weapon,” the senators wrote.
The lawmakers continued:
LNG exports from the United States are also uniquely suited to reduce global emissions. China and India, the world's biggest polluters, are both top destinations for U.S. LNG exports. Therefore, efforts to restrict LNG exports from the United States would directly undermine our ability to reduce emissions through the use of cleaner-burning natural gas.
Restrictions on U.S. LNG exports have no impact on global natural gas demand. Instead, countries including Russia and Iran will simply produce energy that is subject to more relaxed environmental regulations. As a result, restricting U.S. LNG exports in the name of halting climate change could have the exact opposite effect and increase global emissions.
Finally, exporting U.S. LNG brings significant economic benefits to the nation as a whole. According to ICF research, increased U.S. LNG exports could create more than 450,000 jobs and increase GDP by $73 billion. Given the recent growth of the domestic LNG industry, the benefits are likely to be even greater now and in the future.
Co-signers of the letter include Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Idaho). (R-Montana), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Arkansas), and Ted Cruz. (R-TX), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MI), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) , Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), JD Vance (R-OH), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Rounds (R-SC)), John Kennedy (R-LA) ).
Budd said in a written statement:
The Biden administration's decision to suspend LNG export approvals puts radical left-wing environmental activists ahead of the needs of American families, American workers, and American allies. It is wrong to risk billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and America's leadership in the international LNG market just to score cheap political points. President Biden and his administration have no understanding of the needs of the American people. Congress must immediately reverse this self-defeating and harmful policy.
American energy producers agreed with Senate Republicans.
“The Biden administration's decision to suspend U.S. LNG export approvals is nonsense,” Ann Bradbury, CEO of the American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC), said in a statement. It simultaneously harms the U.S. economy, threatens the security of allies around the world, and impedes global emissions reduction goals.
“Instead of unilaterally suspending new U.S. LNG export approvals, the administration will work with industry to expand global access to U.S. LNG to make America stronger and the world safer.” “We should,” Bradbury added.
Mike Somers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), said in a statement:This is a win for Russia, but a loss for America's allies, American jobs, and global climate change. ”
Mr. Somers continued, “U.S. LNG has the clear promise of stabilizing global energy markets, supporting thousands of American jobs, and reducing emissions around the world by moving countries to cleaner fuels.” There is no need to look into it to see the benefits.” This is a breach of promise to America's allies, and it is time for the administration to stop playing politics with global energy security. ”
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
