WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Biden Administration is hitting the brakes on new approvals for Liquified Natural Gas exports.
While they say it won’t impact existing trade with our allies - Republicans are sounding the alarm.
“President Biden is trying to commit energy suicide,” said Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana.
“He is choosing Putin over Pennsylvania,” said Senator Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV) “He’s choosing the Ayatollah over Appalachia.”
They’re calling on Biden to lift the ban.
White House climate advisor Ali Zaidi believes money could be the motivator.
“I’m not surprised if folks who have financial interests in the production of fossil resources, for example, the oil industry are pulling in the other direction,” said Zaidi.
Each of the Senators present Thursday has benefitted financially from the energy sector.
According to OpenSecrets, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven invested $3.2 million dollars of his own money in energy and natural resources in 2014.
Senator John Barrasso, a leading critic of the pause received $286,362 oil and gas campaign contributions 2019-2024.
It is unclear whether these lawmakers can do anything legislatively to reverse the pause.