The announcement of the pause was made jointly by the White House and Department of Energy (DOE) officials on Friday.
The Republican senators argue that this move will inadvertently strengthen Russia and Iran's position while undermining the interests of U.S. allies in Europe and Asia. Supporters of LNG exports maintain that these projects are crucial in assisting American allies to meet their energy needs as they strive to reduce their dependence on Russian natural gas.
In a letter addressed to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the Republicans stated, "American LNG exports have enhanced our geopolitical influence and international energy security across the board since 2016." They further emphasized the significant impact of U.S. LNG on energy security in Asia, citing Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and India as key importers of U.S. LNG.
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The senators also argued that restricting U.S. LNG exports would not affect the global demand for natural gas. Instead, they believe that countries like Russia and Iran would simply increase their energy production, which is subject to less stringent environmental regulations. They warned that this could potentially exacerbate global emissions, contrary to the intended goal of mitigating climate change.
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On Friday, President Biden instructed the DOE to suspend pending permits for LNG export facilities. This directive is to allow federal officials to conduct a thorough environmental review to assess the projects' carbon emissions, a process that could extend beyond a year. This decision has been hailed as a significant victory by climate activists who have been advocating for such measures.
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In a statement issued on Friday, President Biden described the pause on LNG permitting as part of his comprehensive climate agenda. He characterized the climate crisis as "the existential threat of our time" and criticized "MAGA Republicans" for denying the urgency of the climate crisis.
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While the specific projects affected by this action remain uncertain, a senior administration official indicated that at least two projects with larger capacities and two with smaller capacities would be impacted. Another official noted that the pause would only affect projects that have completed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) extensive approval process and are awaiting DOE approval.
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According to updated federal data, 11 projects approved by FERC are not yet under construction. An additional four projects are pending before FERC, and two are in the pre-filing stage. These six projects will not be affected by the pause as they are not yet before the DOE, but they could be impacted if approved by FERC.
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In their letter, Cassidy and the other Republicans urged President Biden and Secretary Granholm to reconsider their decision. They argued that the U.S. should be promoting, not undermining, American LNG exports due to their environmental, economic, and national security benefits for the U.S. and its allies.
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The opposition to the pause is not limited to Republicans and U.S. fossil fuel industry associations. International energy interests, including Eurogas, the Asia Natural Gas & Energy Association, and German state-owned energy company Securing Energy for Europe, have also argued for the importance of American natural gas for energy security abroad.
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Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, President Biden pledged to send more U.S. LNG to the European Union. However, the recent actions appear to contradict the White House's earlier commitment to "maintain its regulatory environment."
Despite the backlash, Democrats and environmentalists have opposed LNG export terminals, arguing that they contribute to harmful pollution and global warming. This issue has sparked social media activism, generating millions of views over the past two months.
Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous praised the decision, stating, "President Biden and Secretary Granholm’s bold step today continues this administration’s historic efforts to meet the global commitment to phase out fossil fuels and confront the climate crisis head on." He hailed the decision as a victory for communities and advocates who have long voiced concerns about the dangers of LNG.
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