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FIRST ON FOX: More than 150 House Republicans are calling for President Biden to reverse his moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export initiatives, an motion they argued negatively impacts the vitality safety of the U.S. and its allies.
The Republican lawmakers — led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and joined by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Conference Chair Elise (*150*), R-N.Y. — penned a letter to Biden on Sunday night, demanding his administration “expeditiously approve all pending applications to increase the global supply of natural gas.”
“This is economically and strategically dangerous and unnecessary,” they wrote within the letter to Biden. “Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, DOE 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, and also have the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.”
“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 added.
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House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., speaks throughout a information convention at the Capitol. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc through Getty Images)
Late final month, Biden ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) to pause pending permits for LNG export amenities whereas federal officers conduct a rigorous environmental evaluation assessing the initiatives’ carbon emissions, which might take extra than a 12 months to finish. The motion represents a significant victory for activists who’ve loudly known as for such a transfer, even threatening to carry massive protests over the problem.
The president mentioned the pause on LNG allowing was part of his sweeping local weather agenda, including the motion “sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.” He additionally took aim at “MAGA Republicans” for willfully denying the “urgency of the climate crisis.”
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But, of their letter Sunday, McMorris Rodgers, Johnson, Scalise, (*150*) and the opposite Republicans mentioned pausing further LNG export capability might finally bolster Russia, noting that, in December 2023, extra than 87% of U.S. LNG exports went to Europe, U.Ok., or Asian markets. In the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, vitality specialists argued LNG exports could be crucial for serving to American allies to wean off Russian gas.
“Actions that slow or halt the ability to export U.S. LNG would weaken global energy security and put these strategic markets at risk,” the lawmakers wrote. “Such actions would undercut efforts we have made to help Europe reduce its reliance on Russian energy.”
biden lngPresident Biden ordered pending natural gas export initiatives to be halted in a surprising transfer Friday. The motion was cheered by environmentalists who oppose fossil gasoline growth. (Getty Images)
And they additional argued that pausing LNG export progress threatens to trigger elevated U.S. vitality costs, result in greater world greenhouse gas emissions and hurt the U.S. financial system. The letter pointed to analysis indicating that LNG exports might add as a lot as $73 billion to the U.S. financial system by 2040, create upwards of 453,000 American jobs and improve U.S. buying energy by $30 billion.
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The letter, in the meantime, comes days earlier than Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are planning to carry a listening to to look at the potential ramifications of the LNG export pause.
In addition, Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott, R-S.C., led a gaggle of 16 senators final week in introducing the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act which might strip DOE of its authority having last say on LNG export initiatives, as a substitute leaving approval choices with the unbiased Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks throughout a information convention on Jan. 17. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Companion laws was launched by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, sooner or later later and is predicted to obtain a flooring vote this month.
While it’s unclear which proposed initiatives the motion will have an effect on, a senior administration official mentioned at least two have a bigger capability and two have a smaller capability. Another official added that the pause carried out Friday will solely impression initiatives that have gone via FERC’s prolonged approval course of and are ripe for DOE approval.
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According to federal knowledge up to date final week, there are 11 initiatives which have been green-lit by FERC however should not but underneath building. An further 4 initiatives are pending earlier than FERC and two are within the pre-filing stage. Those six initiatives would not be impacted by the pause since they don’t seem to be earlier than the DOE but, however could be impacted if authorised by FERC.
The White House did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
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