The Biden administration is reevaluating the climate criteria it uses to approve new liquefied natural gas export facilities, a move that could potentially stall pending projects as the 2024 election approaches.
A panel of government officials, convened by White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi, recently met to develop a policy recommendation on the issue for President Joe Biden, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The officials reportedly met on Saturday to discuss the potential impact of new LNG export facilities on the environment and climate change.
While Biden has been briefed on the issue, he has not yet made a decision on whether to change the criteria for approving such facilities, according to a second source.
The reevaluation of the climate criteria comes as the Biden administration faces pressure from environmental advocacy groups to take stronger action on climate change. The administration has made addressing climate change a top priority, and reevaluating the criteria for approving new LNG export facilities is seen as a potential way to demonstrate its commitment to combating climate change.
However, the potential stalls on pending projects could also have economic implications, as the LNG industry has been a significant source of revenue and job creation in the United States.
The outcome of the administration’s reevaluation of the climate criteria for LNG export facilities remains uncertain, but it is clear that the issue has become a point of contention as the 2024 election nears.