DOE finds US LNG exports in nation’s best interest, reversing prior DOE conclusion
The US Department of Energy (DOE) released its response to comments on a Biden administration LNG study May 19, finding that increasing US LNG exports is in the nation’s best interest.
The finding paves the way for the Trump administration to issue new US LNG export permits for the first time in almost a year.
President Joe Biden in January 2024 ordered DOE to halt new LNG export authorizations pending the results of the study gauging the effects of greater US LNG export capacity on the environment and natural gas prices (OGJ Online, Jan. 26, 2024).
The study, released in December 2024, found that expanded US LNG exports would harm the public and the environment by increasing domestic natural gas prices, electricity prices and worldwide greenhouse gas emissions (OGJ Online, Dec. 17, 2024).
Instead of simply declaring the LNG pause over as he had vowed in the run-up to the election, Trump at the urging of the LNG industry extended the study’s comment deadline to Mar. 25, 2025, from Feb. 18, 2025, to allow for additional comments building the rationale for LNG exports. Completing the administrative process should bolster the chance that new export permits survive potential court challenges (OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2025; Feb. 19, 2025).
In its response to comments, DOE found that that greater LNG exports would have “no discernable impact to global greenhouse gas emissions,” would help grow the US economy, and shrink the US’ trade imbalance. DOE said its findings, based on the 2024 Biden administration study and all the public comments, support the proposition that exports of LNG from the US are in the best interest of the American public.
DOE’s recent finding could spur it to grant export authority to about a dozen LNG plants awaiting approval and help already approved LNG projects tied up in courts.
Cathy Landry | Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.
