More than 150 House Republicans are urging President Biden to reverse his moratorium on liquified natural gas export projects, calling it “economically and strategically dangerous and unnecessary.”
The Republican lawmakers, led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York, sent a letter to Mr. Biden urging him to “expeditiously approve all pending applications to increase the global supply of natural gas.”
They argued that under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the Department of Energy “has consistently found that U.S. LNG exports serve the ’public interest’ because they contribute positive economic benefits and strengthen energy security for the American people.”
They said the exports also have the “potential” to reduce greenhouse emissions globally.
“Your administration should do everything it can to encourage greater production of clean-burning and reliable natural gas, and to grant the export permits that allow access to global markets,” the letter, sent Sunday, read.
The president ordered the moratorium on Jan. 26 and directed federal officials to conduct a review of the environmental impact of the projects, which could take more than a year. He is under heavy pressure from young voters and environmental activists who have accused him of not doing enough to address climate change.
The administration said the current analyses done by DOE are roughly five years old and “no longer adequately account for considerations like potential energy cost increases [for] American consumers and manufacturers beyond current authorizations or the latest assessment of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.”
In the release announcing the pause, the president called out Republicans in Congress for continuing “to deny the very existence of climate change.”
The Republican lawmakers argued that pausing the export of LNG would “weaken global energy security and put these strategic markets at risk.”
“Such actions would also interfere with domestic markets for natural gas, jeopardizing the stability and affordability of prices for American consumers,” they said.
They noted that last December, more than 87% of the U.S. exports went to Europe, the United Kingdom or to Asian markets.
The lawmakers also pointed out studies showing that the exports could add up to $73 billion to the economy by 2040, create more than 450,000 American jobs and increase the country’s purchasing power by $30 billion.
A group of 25 Republican senators also wrote a letter to Mr. Biden late last month urging him to reverse the decision, citing national security concerns.
Republican senators John Kennedy of Louisiana and Tim Scott of South Carolina have introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, which would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny LNG projects rather than the DOE.
Despite criticisms from Republicans, the pause has been celebrated by climate activists and congressional Democrats.
“This is a step in the right direction, but this decision must lead to the only scientifically sound conclusion: a complete rejection of all new LNG export permits,” said Zero Hour, a youth-led activist group.
White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi said the president’s action should enthuse young Americans.
“Young people are excited about [an agenda that is] not about just getting sucked into the doom and gloom of the sky turning orange and the smoke that we breathe into our lungs, but of what we can see together if we get this right,” Mr. Zaidi said. “I think young people know they’ve got in Joe Biden a partner and ally, a leader willing to be forward-leaning and fearless and taking on this crisis and unlocking the massive, massive opportunity that sits on the other side.”
The Washington Times has reached out to the White House for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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