The White House has halted the permitting process for several proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal projects, citing their potential impacts on climate change, but environmentalists have argued in recent months that precedent The government is requesting that the measures be taken without prior notice.
The White House and the Department of Energy (DOE) announced in a joint announcement Friday morning that the pause will be in place while federal officials conduct a rigorous environmental review to assess the project's carbon footprint, but the project has been completed. may take more than a year. Climate change activists have been vocal in condemning LNG export projects in recent weeks, saying they would lead to significant increases in emissions and worsen global warming.
“As our nation's exports increase, we need to review export applications with the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis that takes economic, environmental and national security considerations into account,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a press conference. Told. “This action includes suspending pending applications to export U.S. natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement countries until the Department can update the underlying analysis for approval.”
“The United States is committed to providing affordable energy and economic opportunity for all Americans. We are working here in the United States and with our allies to strengthen energy security,” Granholm said. continued. “And we are committed to protecting Americans from climate change while leading the world to a clean energy future.”
Energy developers shut down major coal-fired power plants to meet environmental goals, jeopardizing power for millions
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said her department is “committed to protecting Americans from climate change as we lead the world to a clean energy future.” (Reuters/Mary F. Culver/File)
It is unclear which proposed projects the measure would affect, but a senior government official told reporters that at least two would have large capacity and two would have small capacity. Another official added that the moratorium implemented Friday only affects projects that have gone through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) lengthy approval process and are ripe for DOE approval.
According to federal data updated this week, there are 11 projects that have been given the green light by FERC but have not yet been built. Four more projects are pending with his FERC, and two are in the pre-filing stage. These six projects are not affected by the moratorium because they have not yet been submitted to the DOE, but would be affected if approved by FERC.
Biden administration abruptly withdraws proposal to open public lands to foreign ownership after opposition from Republicans
“We've had our eyes on front-line communities since day one,” said White House Secretary of State for Climate Change Ali Zaidi. “From day one, we've been working with our allies and partners. That's how Joe Biden will lead on climate change. And when it comes to the climate crisis, we're standing shoulder to shoulder and meeting the challenges at hand. “That's the solution, and yes, we're transitioning globally away from fossil fuels. That's the solution, and that's the strategy that the president has articulated.”
“I think it's important to look at the context in which this is happening as the department moves forward in this way under Secretary Granholm's leadership,” Zaidi added. “We are working this week outside of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, under the leadership of President Biden, to bring clarity to the international community about the need for a global transition away from fossil fuels, with the United States leading the way. ”
White House Climate Czar Ali Zaidi (Al Drago/Bloomberg)
LNG export terminals have been opposed by Democrats and environmentalists who say they cause harmful pollution and contribute to global warming. The issue prompted activists to post a video on social media that has been viewed tens of millions of times in the past two months.
And in December, dozens of environmental groups sent a letter to Granholm imploring him to reject LNG development “for the sake of our climate and our communities.” Days later, 170 scientists sent a letter to President Biden asking him to reject the pending LNG facility.
Environmentalists call on Biden administration for natural gas tank project amid nationwide Arctic blast
Climate activist Bill McKibben recently announced that he will organize a civil disobedience protest in front of the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, D.C., over permits for a new LNG export terminal. He said the action was in imitation of protests he had supported. Nationalize the Keystone XL pipeline A battle during the Obama administration.
But supporters of additional LNG export facilities say the project is essential to meeting energy needs in Europe and Asia as countries seek to reduce Russian natural gas supplies. In the weeks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Biden visited Europe and vowed to strike a deal with the European Union and send more U.S. LNG to the bloc.
A photo taken over Sabine Pass, Texas, shows an LNG carrier docked at the Cheniere Energy Terminal. (Lindsay Johnnys/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I think they're really miscalculating here. This isn't just bad policy, it's bad politics,” former FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee told Fox News Digital. “We promised our European ally, Germany, that we would be there to help them. We should not play politics with energy security.”
“What's really frustrating from an environmental perspective is that U.S. LNG is actually displacing more powerful fossil fuel sources overseas,” Chatterjee said. “We have a much cleaner process than Russia. So not only are we providing a geopolitical asset to our allies, but we are also making sure that U.S. LNG as an alternative to dirtier fuel sources is actually a global 's carbon emissions. And activists, in a sense, seem to be ignoring that.' “
Biden administration appears to have fabricated paper trail to shut down large chemical plant: court documents
This month, energy groups Eurogas and the Asian Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) issued strong statements of support for continued licensing of LNG export terminals in the United States. Eurogas reiterated the importance of these exports to ensure a complete shutdown in Europe. Russia's dependence on natural gasMeanwhile, ANGEA added that US LNG is needed to meet Asia's decarbonization goals.
In a recent letter to Granholm, Germany's state-run energy company, Securing Energy for Europe, said U.S. LNG was “essential for Germany's energy security.” The company already has a purchase agreement in place with at least one proposed LNG export terminal project in Louisiana.
A tank truck transporting LNG is photographed in Germany. (Bodo Marks/Photo in partnership with Getty Images)
“This is a win for Russia, but a loss for U.S. allies, U.S. jobs, and global climate change.” American Petroleum Institute (API) CEO Mike Somers said Wednesday after reports of the conduct emerged.
“Understanding the clear benefits of U.S. LNG to stabilize global energy markets, support thousands of U.S. jobs, and reduce emissions around the world by moving countries to cleaner fuels. “There is no need to consider it,” Somers continued. “This is a broken promise to America's allies, and it's time for the administration to stop playing politics with global energy security.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
API joined dozens of other fossil fuel industry groups in a letter to Granholm on Wednesday, urging the Energy Secretary to immediately allow the continuation of LNG export permits. They wrote that LNG exports “promote U.S. national interests and ensure the energy security of key U.S. allies while protecting U.S. consumers from increased global instability.”
Additionally, proponents of increasing LNG exports point out that shifting the global economy toward greater reliance on natural gas would also help ensure countries meet their decarbonization goals. . They argue that without an increase in LNG, countries will become increasingly reliant on coal-fired power generation, which has a much higher combustion carbon footprint than natural gas power generation.
The industry letter to Granholm noted that the United States has led the world in reducing carbon emissions thanks to increased reliance on natural gas. Coal accounted for the largest share of U.S. electricity generation for decades until natural gas surpassed coal in 2015.
