Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and 25 Republican Senate colleagues joined a letter denouncing the Biden Administration for pausing all pending non-free trade agreement (FTA) export permit applications at the behest of the radical climate lobby. The letter to President Biden and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm comes in response to the Administration’s announcement to re-evaluate the criteria to approve permits for liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects.
“This ‘LNG Plan’ drafted without input from Congress could have significant economic, environmental, and national security consequences domestically and globally,” the Senators wrote. It would be reckless to jeopardize our advantage, especially in a world where energy is frequently being used as a geopolitical weapon.”
“U.S. LNG exports have served as a vital lifeline for countries in Europe and across the globe. Nearly half of U.S. LNG exports have been delivered to Europe to date, with a significant increase in exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When European imports of LNG increased by 60 percent in 2022, U.S. LNG met that demand. Without U.S. LNG exports, European leaders would have to decide between depriving their own citizens of energy or actively funding Russia’s war on Ukraine,” the Senators continued.
“Limiting U.S. LNG exports does not have any impact on the world’s demand for natural gas. Instead, countries including Russia and Iran will simply produce more energy that is subject to less stringent environmental regulations. As a result, limiting American LNG exports in the name of stopping climate change could do just the opposite and add to global emissions,” the Senators concluded. “We strongly urge you to stop this shortsighted effort. As the President of the United States and as the Secretary of Energy, you should be championing – not undermining – American LNG exports and the environmental, economic, and national security benefits to the United States and our allies.”
Crapo was joined in signing the letter by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) in signing the letter.
Read the full letter here.
