In an ill-advised ploy to score political points with climate activists, the Biden Administration Friday announced a pause on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project applications to “assess the impact of greenhouse gas emissions” as well as potential cost increases for Americans.

“Any action to halt U.S. LNG export approvals would be a major mistake that puts American jobs and allies at risk while undermining global climate goals,” a group of industry partners, along with the MSC, wrote in a letter to the White House.

This is just the latest attempt to undermine the importance of the domestic natural gas industry, as the extensive benefits of American LNG are clear and widely appreciated: not only is it essential to blunting efforts by Russia and other dictators trying to weaponize energy, but enhanced access to affordable and clean U.S. LNG is directly tied to human progress and significant climate-related emission reductions.

“Political pressure from extremist organizations and the harmful policies that they are recklessly advancing will leave America and our most critical allies more vulnerable from an energy security perspective, jeopardize job-creating investments in the U.S. and risk global security,” MSC President Dave Callahan said in a release.

While much of the attention has been on the impacts this decision has for existing export facilities along the Gulf Coast, the misguided decision disproportionately impacts the industry in Appalachia where infrastructure constraints, including development of LNG export terminals, have notoriously held back our ability to get our resources to key markets and realize the economic and climate benefits that follow.

This decision directly counters the American success story of going from a net importer of natural gas to most recently surpassing Qatar and Australia as the world’s top exporter. This achievement is primarily attributed to the shale boom that unlocked natural gas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio that also made America the largest oil and gas producer in the world.

America’s rise to be a leader in energy production has been a tough pill to swallow for our adversaries who consistently use energy to wield power.

Simply put: “No one hates U.S. L.N.G. more than Vladimir Putin,” Daniel Yergin, the vice chairman of S&P Global and an industry historian told The New York Times.

Rest assured, Putin is popping the champagne over the Administration’s decision.

Here’s what members of Congress, European allies and others have said about U.S. LNG exports and the Biden administration action:

  • Senators John Fetterman (PA) and Bob Casey Jr. (PA): “This industry has created good-paying energy jobs in towns and communities across the Commonwealth and has played a critical role in promoting U.S. energy independence.” (1/31/24)
  • AXPC and other industry allies: “Our industry is proud to support our allies and global emissions goals, but the geopolitical and climate benefits of American energy exports cannot be maintained with a regulatory regime that moves at the whims of political pressure.” (1/24/24)
  • Eurogas: “If additional US LNG export capacities don’t materialise it would risk increasing and prolonging the global supply imbalance. This would inevitably prolong the period of price volatility in Europe and could lead to price increases with the consequent implications that would have for economic turmoil and social impact.” (1/17/24)
  • Ditte Juul Jorgenson, Director General for Energy, European Union: “We do not have the abundance of energy sources in Europe. We need to rely on partners in the United States and we need to become as resilient as possible within that reality.” (2/16/23)
  • State Representative Martina White: “As the Chair of the Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force, I saw firsthand the life-changing impact an LNG export terminal can have on the city of Philadelphia, the southeast region, and across Pennsylvania. This horrible policy decision by the Biden Administration will cost tens of thousands of family-sustaining union jobs, which would have been supported by an LNG export terminal project.” (1/26/24)
  • Congressman John Joyce (PA): “President Biden has put the concerns of his political base ahead of the Pennsylvania workers who provide the energy that we need. This decision is the next step in the far-left’s attack on American energy that jeopardizes our future as the world leader in LNG sales.” (1/26/24)
  • U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (WV): “Let me be crystal clear: America’s LNG policy should be based on facts, not politics. The indisputable facts are that, to-date, America’s LNG production has strengthened our economy, created good-paying jobs, supported the energy needs of our allies around the world, and helped reduce global emissions.” (1/26/24)
  • U.S. Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (LA): “By bending the knee to climate activists, the President is empowering Russia, weakening U.S. energy security, and forcing Europe’s reliance on dirty, Russian exports.” (1/26/24)
  • Marty Durbin, President, Global Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “Constraining America’s energy strengths at a time of heightened geostrategic tensions is the wrong thing to do. The White House should put politics aside and show global leadership and reliability by resisting calls to restrict LNG exports. (1/25/24)
  • Jay Timmons, President & CEO, National Association of Manufacturers: “Manufacturers call on the president to direct his agencies to support his agenda and to end their political war on the manufacturers who power American jobs, our economy and our national security. Today’s decision weakens our country, while giving Russia an upper hand as Europe and Asia look to transition their energy needs.” (1/26/24)