Some are calling President Biden’s move to delay approval of some big LNG projects across the U.S. a big victory for environmentalists. But Brook Simmons, President of the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma thinks just the opposite
“If Europe were starving and our president used his executive power to limit wheat exports, we’d call him a tyrant,” he said in a statement issued in response to the President’s decision.
“But today, the people of Europe are hungry for clean-burning natural gas from a reliable, freedom-loving partner. We have it; they need it. This is simply another example of the President trying to put U.S. oil and gas workers out of business.”
Congressman Tom Cole also added his criticism of the Biden administration’s move.
“The Biden Administration’s utterly outrageous decision today is just one more of many short-sighted calls that will be detrimental to our country and our European allies at a time when we need to be maximizing the production of our plentiful American energy,” said Cole.
He went on to say that the nations depend on U.S. energy production and Biden’s decision puts their security at risk.
“ Moreover, this is deeply unfair to our own energy industry and the American consumer. The Biden Administration is yet again succumbing to environmental groups and the far-left faction of the Democratic Party by working against our own American companies and workforce.”
Cole was joined by others in the House. Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) were furious over Biden’s move.
“The Biden Administration’s decision to deny future LNG export permits is yet another assault on American energy production that jeopardizes our national security and global energy markets,” said Chairman Newhouse.
“President Biden’s decision to indefinitely pause LNG export permits prioritizes the wishes of radical liberals over U.S. energy security and the security of our allies,” said Chair McMorris Rodgers.
The President’s recent move came even as natural gas shipments to Europe and Asia have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The White House and the Department of Energy issued a joint statement saying the halting of the permitting process for 17 major projects including one that would be the largest LNG port n Louisiana, would allow federal officials to conduct a rigorousenvironmental review to assess the carbon emissions from the projects.
The President’s decision came after environmentalists demanded the move because of the potential impacts on climate change. The activists took aim at the LNG export projects in recent weeks and claimed they would lead to a large increase in emissions and worsen global warming.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm defended the delay, saying as U.S. exports increase, her department has a responsibility to review the export applications musing the most comprehensive up-to-date analysis of the economic, environmental and national security considerations.
“The U.S. is committed to affordable energy and economic opportunities for all Americans. We are committed to strengthening energy security here in the U.S. and with our allies,” Granholm added. “And we’re committed to protecting Americans against climate change as we lead the world into a clean energy future.”