The Congressional Energy Export Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., is praising the decision to lift the pause on the permitting process for future liquefied natural gas exports.
The U.S. Department of Energy, in a statement released Monday, said it would immediately begin the process of reserving the policy put in place by the Biden administration last January.
"LNG is fundamental to the enrichment of U.S. energy production, and the decision to pause these exports has stifled our energy industry over the last four years," said the caucus co-chairs in a joint statement.
"This is just the beginning of the restoration process for unleashing American energy dominance and reviving our economy — and we look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure that America continues to be the world’s top oil and natural gas producer.”
The Biden Administration said the indefinite pause was needed to allow the U.S. Department of Energy to update the "current economic and environmental analyses" for LNG export authorizations.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., panned Biden's decision shortly after it was announced and said the move was meant to entice members of the “young environmental community” into supporting Biden’s 2024 re-election bid.
“It seems to be a universal thought that this is a hat-tip to his young environmental community that he fears he is losing in this election,” she said. “So, purely political reasons.”
The Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia also condemned the Biden administration’s decision.
“Widely recognized as the most strategic and effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, LNG is an essential resource that supports America’s fundamental goals of improving the environment, increasing energy access and supporting job and economic growth here at home,” said President Charlie Burd.
The DOE, in its announcement Monday, said the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management had been directed to resume consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas to countries without a free trade agreement.
"Proper consideration of LNG export applications is required by law and shall proceed accordingly," the Department said.
North America’s liquefied natural gas export capacity is expected to more than double by 2028, according to an analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration released in September.
Total export capacity is estimated to increase from 11.4 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 to 24.4 billion cubic feet per day, if planned projects currently under construction are completed on schedule.
The majority of this growth is expected to come from the U.S. specifically, with total export capacity expected to grow by 9.7 billion cubic feet per day thanks to five LNG export projects currently under construction along the Gulf Coast.