WASHINGTON – Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s announcement to pause the consideration of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminals:
“The Biden Administration’s decision to put the brakes on all pending natural gas export projects weakens the United States’ national and global energy security and undercuts the pro-environment agenda he claims to champion,” said CRES President Heather Reams. “When exported around the world, including to our European allies, American-produced LNG has significantly lower lifecycle emissions than foreign competitors like Russia. If President Biden was serious about reducing global emissions and advancing a smart climate agenda, he would call for policies that bolster production of U.S. natural gas and allow for increased American exports that displace dirtier energy resources.”
Republican Members of Congress, presidential candidates and officials united over the weekend to speak out against the negative impacts this decision would have on America’s energy leadership, the environment and global emissions:
“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. As a result, limiting American LNG exports in the name of stopping climate change could do just the opposite and add to global emissions. We strongly urge you to stop this shortsighted effort. As the President of the United States and as the Secretary of Energy, you should be championing – not undermining – American LNG exports and the environmental, economic, and national security benefits to the United States and our allies.” – Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio) in a letter to President Biden and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
“Unleashing American LNG means: More U.S. jobs. Increased energy security for the U.S. and our allies. Reduced global carbon emissions. POTUS’ LNG export ban will compromise our national security and hurt our economy.” – House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) in a post.
“Stopping the export of American natural gas is a win for our adversaries, like China and Russia, and a direct blow to the environment, American energy workers and communities as well as our allies overseas…American natural gas is the cleanest and safest on earth, and bending the knee to foreign producers only serves to jeopardize our national security and punish hardworking American families who are already struggling under the failing policies of this administration.” – House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) in a statement.
“Natural gas is an affordable, reliable and clean energy source. The irony of President Biden citing climate change to pause LNG exports, despite #natgas being the primary driver of domestic carbon reductions, is astounding. This decision hurts our allies in Europe, empowers China and Russia, and destroys American jobs. We have to make a decision; do we hate emissions? Or do we just hate fossil fuels.” – Conservative Climate Caucus Chair John Curtis (R-Utah) in a post.
“American LNG creates jobs and revenues at home, reduces emissions and increases security in countries who purchase from us, and provides an alternative to Russia, which is surely celebrating this news.” – Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in a statement.
“POTUS’ pausing of LNG project approval is a smokescreen for his radical intentions to halt all liquified natural gas in America. Little does he know, America produces the cleanest natural gas in the world. Why does he continue to kneecap this country?” – House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Chair Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) in a post.
“Unleashing American energy production and exports with American LNG that is 40% cleaner than Russian LNG increases American energy independence and decreases reliance on our adversaries. That’s not a Republican viewpoint, that’s a pro-America viewpoint!” – House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) in a statement.
“Let’s be clear: either we export American gas, or else Russian, Iranian, and Chinese energy will fill the void. There is only one right answer to this question. If killing American jobs, increasing emissions, and funding terrorism is your goal, you’re gonna love this.” – Congressman Garret Graves (R-La.) in a statement.
“I will work with my Republican colleagues to roll back these dangerous policies being forced upon the American people and to bring forth policies that make energy reliable, affordable, and cleaner[…]” – Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) in a statement.
“Texas leads the nation in natural gas production, producing the cleanest natural gas in the world. It’s insanity that POTUS would halt LNG exports to force reliance on dirtier alternatives.” – Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Texas) in a post.
“The Biden administration’s move to halt natural gas exports is a direct hit to the United States’ economy and energy security. Since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States increased LNG exports to provide ally nations with a cleaner alternative to Russian LNG exports, while also helping to prevent a catastrophic energy crisis. The Biden administration’s action today sends a clear message that they would rather appease radical environmental activists over securing U.S. energy independence and providing allied nations with cleaner fuel. This is a gift to Putin and Russia; I urge the Biden administration to reverse this decision immediately.” – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio) in a statement.
“The Biden Administration’s decision to deny future LNG export permits is yet another assault on American energy production that jeopardizes our national security and global energy markets. Instead of supporting our allies in Europe who are looking to end reliance on Russian natural gas, the Biden Administration has indefinitely paused the most reliable alternative in order to bend the knee to the extreme climate lobby.” – Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) in a statement.
“Shame on President Biden for once again putting election-year politics over American interests. Banning LNG exports means fewer American jobs, increased global carbon emissions and less energy security for the U.S. and our allies.” – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) in a post.
“President Biden is once again caving to the Climate Cult. His reckless decision to freeze LNG exports weakens America’s national and energy security. Worse, it forces many of our allies to rely on dirty, Russian sources rather than cleaner natural gas.” – Congressman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) in a post.
“This will empower Russia and likely lead to more emissions as our clean LNG will be replaced with dirtier energy sources from adversaries. This decision further destabilizes the world, harms our allies, eliminates good-paying American jobs, and drives up costs.” – Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) in a post.
“President Biden’s move to stall LNG exports is only a win for our adversaries and dirty global polluters like China and Russia. […] American resources keep the United States and our allies safe, and the President’s decision to undercut this geopolitical tool will have significant national security, economic, and environmental consequences.” – Congressmen August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) in a joint statement.
“The Kremlin is celebrating this decision. American natural gas is the cleanest in the world, can displace foreign coal from China, and ensures our allies aren’t relying on Russia for natural gas. America should be accelerating LNG exports, not pausing them.” – Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin in a post.
“Just yesterday, Biden stopped the export of American natural gas to other countries. He doesn’t want plants built in the United States even though that is the best thing you could do. […] [These natural gas projects] are good for the environment, not bad, and good for our country. I will approve the export terminals my very first day back.” – Former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Nevada.
“If these young people do care about the climate, you need to be supporting American LNG going out into the market and helping address the climate.” – Former U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in an interview.
To learn more about how natural gas plays a crucial role in reducing global emissions, check out this CRES Forum white paper HERE.