The Biden administration’s Energy Department released a report that could complicate President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to promote liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The study, titled “Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports,” warns of potential dangers LNG exports pose to the environment and economy.
The analysis could hinder Trump’s goal of expanding natural gas exports by increasing scrutiny over permits for new LNG facilities. Environmental groups have indicated they will use the study to support legal challenges against any new projects Trump’s administration approves, according to Politico.
“The incoming administration clearly wants to take a different approach and start approving permits as fast as they can. But the study’s findings could complicate that approach,” said Ben Cahill, an energy scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, as reported by The Washington Post.
Though the report stopped short of recommending a cap on LNG exports, it advised regulators to weigh the national interest when issuing permits for new projects. The findings caution that increasing LNG exports could lead to higher domestic energy prices and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The study estimates that additional LNG exports could add 1.5 gigatons of emissions by 2050—equivalent to a quarter of the country’s annual emissions.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned of risks to communities near LNG export facilities. “Communities that are living in the shadows of LNG export projects already live among significant industrial development and would be subject to even higher levels of methane and other harmful pollution,” Granholm said during a call with reporters.
In January 2024, the Biden administration paused the approval of new LNG export projects to evaluate their impact on climate change, the economy, and national security. Trump has criticized this decision, arguing that it stifles investment and job growth. He has promised to lift the pause on LNG projects immediately if reelected, stating it would be his “first day back” priority.
This debate over LNG exports highlights the clash between environmental concerns and energy policy, as both administrations navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility.
