“The United States produces energy more cleanly and more reliably than any other nation, and the Biden Administration needs to wake up and realize that."
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in favor of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024 would remove restrictions on the import and export of natural gas and require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to deem the import or export of natural gas to be consistent with the public interest.
“President Biden’s LNG export ban is a direct attack on Southeast Texas. Port Arthur LNG and Golden Pass LNG facilities in Jefferson County have both followed the rigorous and burdensome permitting process and are close to turning their lights on and producing and exporting LNG. This ban now puts these projects in limbo, killing thousands of jobs and hurting our local, state, and national economies,” said Rep. Weber. “The United States produces energy more cleanly and more reliably than any other nation, and the Biden Administration needs to wake up and realize that. I am proud that the House passed this bill to reverse the ban and block this administration from playing politics with America’s energy security—and my district.”
Rep. Weber spoke in support of this bill on the House floor
Background:
- On January 26th, President Biden announced an indefinite ban on the issuance of export permits to non-FTA countries while it conducts a review to consider the climate impacts of natural gas. In the announcement, the White House fact sheet justified the action based on the desire to “act with urgency” to address the “existential threat” of climate change.
- Current law requires that natural gas exports to countries with which the U.S. has an FTA be approved without delay. For non-FTA countries, the Energy Secretary is required to approve export requests unless they find exports “will not be consistent with the public interest.” There is a clear statutory presumption that U.S. LNG. exports are in the public interest.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) has already commissioned five studies to examine the effects of U.S. LNG exports. The results unanimously demonstrate the benefits to the U.S. economy and domestic natural gas prices. DOE has also issued two studies that examined the life cycle greenhouse gas impacts of U.S. LNG exports, showing strong environmental benefits. In fact, the two prior presidential administrations conducted these studies without blocking export permits.
H.R. 7176, Unlocking Our Domestic LNG. Potential Act of 2024:
- Amends the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) to repeal all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas.
- Provides that FERC shall have the exclusive authority to approve or deny any application for authorization for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a facility to export natural gas from the U.S. to a foreign country or import natural gas from a foreign country, including an LNG terminal.
