On Monday, more than 150 House Republicans called on President Joe Biden to end his “de facto” ban on liquefied natural gas exports.
In a letter signed by Pennsylvania Reps. John Joyce, Dan Meuser, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn “GT” Thompson, Mike Kelly, and others, the law makers said that limiting LNG exports hurts the American economy and jobs, as well as jeopardizes the stability and affordability of natural gas domestically. The law makers urged the Biden administration to approve pending LNG export applications.
“We write regarding the announcement that the Department of Energy (DOE) will stop issuing indefinitely permits to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) while your administration conducts an additional “public interest” review, including environmental, economic, and environmental justice criteria,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is economically and strategically dangerous and unnecessary. 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 (GHG) emissions.”
On Jan. 26, Biden temporarily halted the approval process for new U.S. LNG export sites. In their letter, the Congress members said studies show LNG exports could add more than $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, and create nearly half a million jobs. Over the past seven years, the U.S. has increased LNG export capacity from zero to 11.6 billion cubic feet per day, the law makers said.
At the same time, the price of U.S. natural gas has remained relatively stable and affordable despite inflation, the letter said, and giving the U.S. a key role in reducing global natural gas prices.
Banning exports, the Congress members said, would weaken global energy security, halt investment in American energy, and put America’s energy leadership in jeopardy.