First appearance on Fox: House Republican leaders warn that U.S. small businesses could be hit hardest by President Biden’s recent suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports over concerns about climate change. .
House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) said in a letter Wednesday morning to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm that the policy will hurt small businesses, the U.S. economy at large, and around the world. It warned that it would have an “adverse impact” on US strategic interests. . In his letter, Mr. Williams sought answers to a series of questions about the administration’s actions.
“Currently, more than 90% of oil and gas drilling companies are small and medium-sized businesses, and the committee is concerned about this decision and the strategic priorities of those companies and the United States,” Williams wrote in a letter to Biden and Granholm. We are looking for a deeper explanation of the impact on the government,” he said, adding that the administration appears to have a plan. About the difficulty small fossil fuel operators have in “competing and making a living.”
“This export decision will force the United States to turn its back on its European allies and push us back into the hands of the Russian Federation,” the Small Business Commissioner continued. “This not only runs counter to U.S. strategic interests, but also poses a challenge for companies large and small that were planning to export their products to Europe or Asia in the coming years.”
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Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) pictured outside the House Republican Conference campaign meeting on October 24, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
Williams added that small U.S. natural gas producers are taking advantage of the opportunity to replace Russian gas in the global market. U.S. LNG has largely filled the hole left by Russian natural gas, as U.S. allies sought to punish their domestic economies by cutting off Russian exports in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago. , Biden supported the plan at the time.
In December 2023, more than 87% of U.S. LNG exports went to markets in Europe, the United Kingdom, or Asia.
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“When making impactful decisions like this, it is important that government agencies consider the interests of small businesses, which represent 99.9 percent of all businesses in the United States. America’s small businesses need their voices heard. You have the right to consider it,” Williams wrote.
President Biden last month ordered a halt to pending natural gas export projects in a surprising move. The action was supported by environmental activists who oppose fossil fuel development. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
In January, Biden Order to the Department of Energy (DOE) It will suspend pending permits for LNG export facilities while federal regulators conduct a rigorous environmental review to assess the project’s carbon footprint, which could take more than a year to complete. The move is a major victory for activists who have been vocal in calling for such a move, saying it would help combat global warming.
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the president acknowledged that Suspend LNG permit He added that the action was part of his broader climate change plan and that the action “sees the climate crisis for what it is: a modern-day existential threat.” He also targeted “MAGA Republicans” who deliberately denied “the urgency of the climate crisis.”
A photo taken over Sabine Pass, Texas, shows an LNG carrier docked at the Cheniere Energy Terminal. (Lindsay Johnnys/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
But industry groups, former federal officials and a bipartisan group of lawmakers slammed the move, arguing that in addition to supporting allies in Europe and Asia, energy exports would strengthen domestic energy production and boost the U.S. economy. he pointed out.
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fossil fuel industry association A recently cited study found that LNG exports could add up to $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, create 453,000 U.S. jobs, and increase U.S. purchasing power by $30 billion. is.
Critics of Mr. Biden’s actions also argue that global consumers are likely to become more reliant on coal and Russian gas as a result, both of which are more polluting than U.S. LNG and therefore less environmentally friendly. I argued that it would not.
House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (center) warned of the “adverse effects” the policy would have on small businesses in a letter to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday morning. (Getty Images)
“Holding exports of U.S. LNG that meets U.S. environmental standards in favor of European and Asian coal and Russian LNG is likely to have a more negative environmental impact than simply approving these exports. ” Williams wrote.
It remains unclear which proposed projects the measure would affect, but a senior government official said at least two would have larger capacity and two would have smaller capacity. Another official added that the moratorium implemented on Friday only affects the following projects: passed FERC It has gone through a lengthy approval process and is ready for DOE approval.
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According to federal data, there are 11 projects that have been given the green light by FERC but have not yet been built. Four additional projects are pending with 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.
The White House and Department of Energy did not respond to requests for comment.
