The House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon to strip the Biden administration of its authority to authorize natural gas export projects, dealing a blow to the president’s climate change policies.
The House approved the so-called Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act by a vote of 224-200, with 215 Republicans and nine Democrats voting yes.
Rep. August Pflueger (R-Texas), chairman of the House Energy Action Team, introduced the bill on February 1st, and the bill would ultimately be part of President Biden’s suspension of new energy policy permits. He argued that it would reverse recent actions. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project.
“Just last year, President Biden told European countries that they needed to transition away from Russian gas and that the United States would provide them with the liquid natural gas they needed.In an election year, President Biden They’re trying to undermine that agreement to appease the global climate change base,” Pflueger told Fox News Digital before the vote.
“Two-thirds of the world’s natural gas is produced in four countries: Russia, Iran, the United States, and Qatar. The de facto ban on U.S. LNG exports is the result of a bullet that killed President Putin and three military personnel. “It’s a gift to the Iranian regime that just gave weapons to the Houthis,” the Texas congressman continued. “He is proud to stand up for American jobs when the president appears to only be defending the interests of Russia and Iran.”
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Rep. August Pflueger (R-Texas) told Fox News Digital that President Biden’s recent actions were taken to “appease a radical climate base.” (Getty Images)
Pflueger also noted that Russian natural gas is 40% dirtier than U.S. natural gas, adding that Biden’s recent suspension of LNG exports was a “terrible decision for the environment.”
If passed, Pflueger’s bill would amend the Natural Gas Act of 1938 to provide independent regulation. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Exclusive authority to approve or deny applications to locate, construct, expand, and operate LNG export projects.
In approving or denying permits, FERC would be required under the bill to “deem that the import or export of natural gas is consistent with the public interest.”
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“Joe Biden would rather appease the radical environmentalists in his party than protect hard-working Americans. House Republicans believe that the Biden administration’s Green New Deal will destroy American jobs. , we cannot stand idly by and stifle America’s energy to the benefit of our adversaries,” said House Majority Whip Tom. Emmer, R-Minnesota, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
FERC currently conducts rigorous economic and environmental reviews of LNG export projects. However, following FERC review, the Department of Energy (DOE) is tasked with determining whether such projects exporting LNG to non-free trade agreement countries are in the national interest and granting final approval.
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. (Getty Images)
Late last month, Biden ordered the DOE to suspend pending permits for LNG export facilities. Rigorous environmental review As part of the agency’s national interest analysis, it assesses the carbon emissions of projects. This review could take more than a year to complete.
Energy groups, Republicans and former federal officials condemned the action, saying LNG exports are the only way to keep U.S. energy prices low, get U.S. allies to withdraw from Russian gas, and reduce global carbon emissions. argued that it was essential. They noted that as of December 2023, more than 87% of U.S. LNG exports went to markets in Europe, the United Kingdom, or Asia that had previously relied on Russia.
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“Allies and trading partners around the world depend on clean, reliable, and affordable U.S. natural gas for energy and economic security and to advance environmental progress through reduced emissions. “There is,” said Marty Durbin, director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. Supported the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act.
“Europe remains dependent on Russia for nearly 15% of its natural gas consumption, and with global demand expected to increase for decades, continued expansion of U.S. export capacity is in U.S. national interest. It’s essential,” he added.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (DN.J.) said the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act would benefit China. But only a small portion of his U.S. LNG exports go to the Chinese market. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
But environmentalist groups and Democrats criticized the bill, arguing that stripping the Energy Department of LNG export licensing authority would worsen climate change and primarily benefit Chinese industry.
“Make no mistake about it: If this bill becomes law, Americans will be paying more for gas to keep their homes warm and the lights on. “It’s an insult to middle-class families who don’t have much,” said House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D.N.J.), who said the bill would “make China richer.”
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But only 6.7% of U.S. LNG exports go to China, according to the latest federal data. Most of the exports are going to Europe, which relies on U.S. natural gas to wean itself off Russian energy amid the Ukraine war, and other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea.
The bill is currently before the Senate Banking Committee. Ranking member Tim Scott, RS.C. He filed a joint bill with 16 Republicans. But the White House said Biden would veto the bill if it passes.
The White House said Tuesday that “the administration believes that the important protections provided by current law should remain in place to protect residential and industrial consumers and the nation’s domestic energy security. This bill will abolish it.”
