State chambers of commerce urge Biden administration to lift LNG export ban

On Monday, state and local chambers of commerce in 36 states joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in calling on President Joe Biden to reverse his administration’s decision to ban new liquified natural gas (LNG) export licenses.

The nearly 150 chambers said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that the indefinite ban would have detrimental consequences on businesses, future investments and global security. In January, the Biden Administration announced it would temporarily pause decisions on exports of LNG to non-Free Trade Agreement countries until the DOE can update the analysis for authorizations.

“As state and local chambers representing thousands of businesses of all sizes, we have significant concerns with the administration’s recent moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export license reviews,” the letter said. “Simply stated, the administration’s action undermines economic growth and environmental progress while betraying America’s commitment to bolster the security of our allies during a period of rising global instability.”

The chambers wrote that as America continues to lead the world in emissions reductions, the country should be exporting the environmental success story of reduced methane emissions that LNG represents to the world. Additionally, the chambers said that creating uncertainty for new LNG exports sends the wrong signal to energy markets and will have negative effects on the broader natural gas industry.

“Natural gas has fueled Pennsylvania’s position as a state among nations, supplying American families and businesses as well as our allies with clean, affordable, and reliable energy,” Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. said. “We call on the Biden Administration to end its moratorium on LNG export licenses and focus on supporting jobs here in PA and stability around the world.”