Central ND News

Jan 26 2024

The Biden administration has announced a pause on pending decisions regarding exports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This pause aims to assess the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America's energy security, and the environment. However, this decision has raised concerns among several senators.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, along with 25 other colleagues, has written a letter to President Biden and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, expressing their deep concerns about the review of criteria necessary to approve permits for LNG export projects and the potential pause to all pending non-FTA export permit applications. The senators argue that without input from Congress, this "LNG Plan" could have significant economic, environmental, and national security consequences.

The senators highlight the importance of U.S. LNG exports in enhancing geopolitical influence and international energy security. They emphasize that limiting American LNG exports could have unintended consequences. They state, "Limiting U.S. LNG exports do not have any impact on the world's demand for natural gas. Instead, countries including Russia and Iran will simply produce more energy that is subject to less stringent environmental regulations."

The senators also point out the potential risks associated with limiting U.S. LNG exports. They highlight Russia's record levels of LNG exports and its plans to dramatically expand its future export capacity. Additionally, they raise concerns about Iran-backed forces provoking conflicts in the Middle East and threatening shipping lanes through which LNG is shipped to Europe and Asia. The senators argue that by limiting American LNG exports, the United States could inadvertently contribute to global emissions and undermine its own environmental goals.

In their letter, the senators urge President Biden and Secretary Granholm to reconsider the pause on LNG export permits. They emphasize the environmental, economic, and national security benefits of American LNG exports to the United States and its allies. They state, "As the President of the United States and as the Secretary of Energy, you should be championing - not undermining - American LNG exports."

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., and cosigned by several senators including John Barrasso, Lisa Murkowski, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and many others.

The concerns raised by these senators reflect the importance of carefully considering the implications of pausing LNG export permits. The decision should take into account not just the domestic impacts but also the broader geopolitical and environmental considerations associated with global energy markets.