Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has collaborated with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and 15 other colleagues to introduce the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, a legislative proposal aimed at depoliticizing the export of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). The act seeks to eliminate the current requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize LNG exports, shifting the approval process to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The introduction of this legislation follows President Biden’s decision to pause approvals for pending applications for U.S. LNG exports, a move that Senator Britt argues could have significant repercussions for American energy independence and global energy dynamics. According to Senator Britt, the Biden administration’s decision plays into the hands of far-left climate activists and Vladimir Putin, potentially increasing reliance on Russia and other global actors.
Senator Britt expressed her concern, stating, “Instead of strengthening U.S. energy security, President Biden has chosen to continue appeasing far-left Green New Deal enthusiasts by freezing new LNG project permits. This irresponsible, job-killing move will effectively weaken America’s role as the world’s leading exporter of LNG and further diminish the American energy dominance that President Biden inherited. At every turn, this Administration puts its partisan agenda ahead of hardworking American families.”
Senator Scott echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the potential negative consequences of President Biden’s decision on American energy exports. He stated, “President Biden’s move to halt American energy exports is pure politics. In fact, exporting U.S. natural gas would actually lower global emissions. President Biden is dead set on bowing to the far-left and making the U.S. and our allies more reliant on foreign adversaries like Russia. Instead, I’m fighting to unleash America’s abundant natural resources, bolster our energy independence and safeguard our national security.”
The Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act garnered bipartisan support, with cosponsors including Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Senators Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-N.V.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Deb Fischer (R-Nebr.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.).
The bill aims to address the recent pause in LNG exports by shifting approval authority from the DOE to the FERC. As tensions rise globally, there is a growing demand for American energy from international partners, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The Biden administration’s decision places them at a crossroads between national security considerations and progressive environmental concerns.
For those interested, the full text of the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act can be found here.
