Biden Pauses Liquefied Natural Gas Export Approvals in Desperate Bid to Appeal to Climate Cultists
Team Biden is scrambling to assure our European allies they will get the LNG promised. Meanwhile, the pause is impacting facilities in Texas (making the timing suspicious).
Recently, I noted that the United States seemed to be “quiet quitting” insane “net zero” carbon emission goals, as oil production has surged recently.
Of course, inexpensive and efficient energy supplies are making climate cultists unhappy.
With this in mind, it is interesting to note that Reuters, hardly a right-wing organization, recently reported that former President Donald Trump (and likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee) has opened up a lead general election polling.
The nationwide poll of 1,250 U.S. adults showed Trump leading Biden 40% to 34% with the rest unsure or planning to vote for someone else or no one. The poll had a margin of error of three percentage points.
That represented a gain for Trump after a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted earlier this month showed him and Biden tied, though a nationwide survey does not capture the subtleties of the electoral college contest that will be decided this fall in just a handful of competitive states.
So, what did Biden do? He tossed a small policy crumb to the climate cultists. The occupant of the White House paused approvals for pending and future applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from new projects.
The Department of Energy (DOE) will conduct a review during the pause that will look at the economic and environmental impacts of projects seeking approval to export LNG to Europe and Asia where the fuel is in hot demand.
The review will take months and then will be open to public comment which will take more time, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters in a teleconference.
Biden said in a statement: “During this period, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America’s energy security, and our environment.”
The pause “sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time,” said Biden, a Democrat.
The bureaucrats apparently looked at the number and decided there was too much production of this important energy resource going on.
U.S. LNG capacity has doubled in recent years and is set to double again under projects already approved, the White House said. Current methods the Energy Department uses to evaluate LNG projects don’t adequately account for potential cost hikes for American consumers and manufacturers or the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, officials said.
“There’s a long runway here (for LNG projects) and we’re taking a step back and thinking, okay, let’s take a hard look before that runway continues to build out,’’ said White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi.
As Hot Air’s Beege Welborn notes, the move has the possibility of hurting our European allies, which were promised American LNG to replace the Russian gas that they are boycotting because of Ukraine. The LNG supply is even tighter now, given the Houthi piracy in the Red Sea.
Europe were promised LNG by the US after cutting Russian buying. They were lied to. Electoral politics more important than a core ally. Biden pulls the LNG terminals even though Qatari LNG has to take the long route due to Red Sea attacks. Europe look like complete clowns. 🤡🇪🇺 https://t.co/oqFxSiwN2F
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) January 26, 2024
The administration is now scrambling to assure our allies in Europe that Biden will keep his commitments.
Administration officials vowed the pause would not hurt allies, saying the plan will come with exemptions for national security should they need more LNG.
“We are committed to strengthening energy security here in the U.S. and with our allies,” Granholm said.
I question the timing of this move. Given Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to contain the southern border in opposition to Biden and the subsequent support of 25 governors, including those from all gulf coast states, it must be noted that the pause is going to hit facilities in Texas and Louisiana hardest.
- Commonwealth LNG has been waiting since November 2022 for approval for its 9.3 million-metric-tonnes-per-annum (mtpa) LNG export facility in Cameron, Louisiana. The firm has reached agreements for just about 50% of capacity and was targeting a final investment decision this year.
- Sempra’s (SRE.N) , opens new tab Port Arthur, Texas, LNG’s trains 3 and 4, capable of producing up to 13.5 mtpa, applied for authorization from DOE in September 2023. The facility’s Phase 2 represents an expansion on the already producing first phase.
- Energy Transfer (ET.N) , opens new tab re-applied for an export permit for its Lake Charles LNG facility in Louisiana after its original permit expired without completing construction. It sought a new non-FTA license in August 2023.
- Glenfarne Group’s Magnolia LNG, which expects to produce 8.8 mtpa of LNG at a facility in Louisiana, also refiled its permit, but the company has not provided details on dates. The project has not moved forward.
Biden has an epiphany at 6am this morning to pause all new LNG terminal approvals to fight climate change.
Look at the locations of the approved LNG export terminals.
Climate change or revenge? https://t.co/NflzSUMnPX pic.twitter.com/Jrmpvyl88X
— Angela Malone (@LibsBeCrazy) January 26, 2024
If there is a pro-American policy decision Team Biden has ever made, I can’t name it.
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Comments
There is nothing suspicious here. The Biden junta is attempting to punish Texas for not being lap dogs and opening the southern border.
I think that’s more of an added bonus for these pukes. It’s primarily intended to push forward this insanely damaging climate agenda, just my view. Why they want to push this lunacy forward is I guess open to debate, but whatever motivates it, isn’t science.
It’s about trying to hurt Texas
This will backfire HUGLY
Grillers, RVers, and seasonal cabin owners:
What a great time to stock up on propane (and propane accessories)!
I just logged on with the intention of posting exactly that point of view.
This came down within hours of the deadline that Biden had given to Abbott on the border.
He is getting a twofer. Try to win back some votes from the climate cultist allies who are fleeing to either Trump or Independents and slamming TX for making him look like an idiot with the southern invasion.
This administration takes the cake in being stupid.
They can’t do anything right. Even by accident.
The only thing stopping a complete collapse of this administration is the fact that media is almost all under Democratic control and can ignore the informing the public. But even that is getting hard to do…
EU needs alternative supply to Russia. Natural gas is cleanest fossil fuel.
Joe just made Europe mo dependent on Putin
A banker friend was part of the $6 billion syndicate for the last LNG facility built on the Gulf Coast. The estimated payback time for $6 billion was 9 months.
“… impacting facilities in Texas (making the timing suspicious).”
Yup. This action was merely a figleaf for the climate cult. L.E. nailed the true purpose in her tagline, and made Putin a richer man to boot.
So Biden cons Europe into fighting a proxy war with Russia, thus cutting off their access to natural gas.
The Houthis shut down the Gulf of Aden so no LNG from Qatar.
And now Biden cuts the US capability to supply the gas he promised to the EU.
All in the dead of winter.
Brilliant.
deliberate?
There is no rhyme or reason to the vile Dhimmi-crats’ policy contradictions and stupidity, other than crass pandering to their base of Leftist fanatics and subversives and political self-interest. Deleterious and destructive real-world policy consequences are deemed to be irrelevant; not even an afterthought.
Germany and other European countries are hugely dependent on American LNG to wean themselves off of Russian oil and gas. The Dhimmi-crats’ energy policy is grounded in the same traits that characterize their other policies — stupidity, arrogance, ignorance, naivete and infantilism.
Unfortunately, there is. They are nihilists and simply want the end of America (and the West). This is their goal – total destruction. Every single thing they do is oriented towards this annihilation of America … and Americans. They are truly sick, sick people. About the sickest people that evolution has ever puked onto this Earth.
Meanwhile, the execrable “Der Speigel” and the other Leftist, European media outlets, are back to vilifying President Trump and warning of the alleged doom that will descend upon the world, if he is re-elected. As if dim-witted, feckless, incompetent and obnoxious crime boss and dotard, Biden, has done a great job in office, destroying American and allied deterrence, facilitating the start of wars on three continents and generally enabling and empowering every malignant totalitarian state and Muslim terrorist group/sponsor, worldwide.
This screws Europe hard. First we blew up the gas pipeline from Russia, now we won’t be able to ship them gas. I guess they can all cuddle up with Greta to stay warm.
They can burn their furniture to stay warm in winter?
Might make the EU appreciate Trump
Nothing will do that.
Via eugyppius:
Only if they want to cuddle in a Hamas tunnel.
It would be awful to have to keep warm with Greta.
Vegetarians have gas.
Recently the president’s reelection campaign bemoaned the notion that Biden is not given sufficient credit for his accomplishments. Should Biden not proudly stand behind his open borders and the surge of migrants, the throttling of the American oil and gas industry, the level of inflation, the various disasters in foreign policy (Iran buyout of hostages, Enabling Russia to miscalculate on Ukraine, stopping the Abraham accords in the Middle east, the utter incompetence in Afghanistan, …), the unauthorized $500B student debt forgiveness plan, the mandating of COVID vaccines and then firing of perfectly healthy military members for not taking unnecessary and ineffective medications, and then realizing a shortage of active military members. I could go on and on with Biden’s “accomplishments” but I suspect that the above will not make it into the slick propaganda videos for Joe’s reelection campaign.
why do I have just the slightest suspicion that you won’t be voting for the pResident.
What Biden policies equate to an open border?
Oil and gas has increased during the Biden administration.
Enabling Russia to miscalculate on Ukraine – seriously your trying to lay that at Bidens door? Your a deeply unserious person
The Abraham accords have continued under Biden
The afghan withdrawal was Trumps plan being implemented
Covid vaccines are demonstrably effective and not following orders due to conspiratorial thinking isn’t a sign of competence is it
I guess we can be thankful that Traitor Joe hasn’t just blown up our gas pipelines … yet.
Don’t give them hints of what to do next
I believe this is a Texas product. I believe the timing was in retaliation against Texas.
Abbott should tell the retarded pedophile grifter to go fuck himself on this too.
To trust mind numbingly stupid Granholm with anything besides making sandwiches is a crime.
Suppose you get past the prima facia stupidity of this. Only Russia benefits from this. Proving again BUYdne is a puppet.
Our government is run by the Church of the Global Warming, the constitution forbids it but when the Church runs the government you will bow to their god.
Once they have a permit process in place to “protect us”, it turns out they are protecting us, but from anyone they dislike doing anything useful for themselves.
If they don’t have an explicit “protection” authority, they’ll go find one. See, for example, gas stoves.
I suspect that Biden’s position would change 180 degrees if Gov. Greg Abbott decided to purchase some of Hunter’s artwork for the right price.
Obvious retaliation is obvious.
“inexpensive and efficient energy supplies” Green energy from wind and solar is cheaper. Which is why investors invest more in those than fossil fuels.
natgas is racist says lefty