A policy lauded by climate activists to pause natural gas exports was quickly overturned, revealing the complexity and challenges in shifting U.S. energy policy.
Jake Bittle reports for Grist.
In short:
- In January, the Biden administration paused new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals, hailed as a significant climate win.
- A federal judge recently ruled that the administration must continue considering individual projects, effectively ending the pause.
- This reversal highlights the ongoing struggle within the administration to balance environmental goals with energy and economic interests.
Key quote:
"If this is really over — you have a DOE that’s going to go back to a presumption that LNG exports are in the public interest — this will have been a blip. If this is going to be an opening salvo in an ongoing battle over every step in LNG exports, it’ll be trench warfare."
— Steven Miles, research fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Why this matters:
This swift policy reversal continues the ongoing battle between climate goals and economic pressures, affecting U.S. energy strategies and their global impact on climate change and energy markets. Read more: For environmental groups, Biden’s LNG decision cause for celebration – and caution.
