02.09.24

Hoeven Pushing Back On Biden Administration’s Ban on LNG Export Approvals

Senator Stresses Importance of LNG to U.S. Allies, Nation’s Energy Dominance

WASHINGTON – At a press conference with his Senate Republican colleagues this week, Senator John Hoeven pushed back on the Biden administration’s ban on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorizations, citing the policy’s harm to U.S. economic and national security interests. Last month, the Biden administration indefinitely halted approvals for new LNG export authorizations while it reviews the Department of Energy’s (DOE) application process.

“The U.S. should not only be energy independent, but energy dominant, and with the right policies we can be,” said Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Here we have a policy that fails at every level, from an economic, national security and environmental standpoint. By blocking new LNG export approvals, not only do we lose out on the growth and good jobs from natural gas production, but our allies have to rely on gas from our adversaries like Russia and Iran, as well as other nations with lower environmental standards than the U.S. This policy defies common sense.”

Over the past decade, U.S. gas exports have more than quadrupled, making America the largest natural gas exporter in the world. With Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, U.S. allies in Europe have become increasingly reliant on U.S. LNG, and this latest regulatory burden imposed by the Biden administration undermines efforts to reduce Russia’s influence over Europe. Accordingly, Hoeven:

  • Introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to eliminate the requirement for the DOE to authorize LNG exports and instead give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sole authority over the approval process.
  • Is working to reverse the Biden administration’s ban on transporting LNG by rail.
  • Sponsored legislation to streamline and set deadlines for multi-agency National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews of natural gas pipeline and LNG projects needed to get energy to market. This legislation has been included in two comprehensive energy permitting reform bills:
    • The Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act, which Hoeven helped introduce and is sponsored by Senate ENR Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY).
    • H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representative last year.

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