Lafayette Reporter

In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized the Biden administration's pause on new and pending liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits. The senator argued that this policy would have detrimental effects on America and its allies. As a result, Kennedy announced that he would block all of President Biden's nominees to the State Department and the Department of Energy until the administration reverses its stance on LNG production.

Kennedy raised concerns about the justification given by the White House for the permit pause, stating, "The White House claims this is necessary because the Energy Department based its permit reviews on five-year-old data. That's their story. Here's the truth: Climate warriors want President Biden to destroy America's fossil-fuel industry, but he doesn't want to pull the trigger himself." According to Kennedy, by withholding permits, the president can deter investors and potentially lead to the closure of LNG terminals, all while maintaining the appearance of clean hands.

The senator highlighted the impact of the permit pause on specific projects, such as the Calcasieu Pass 2 export terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Kennedy emphasized that canceling the permit for this terminal alone would put $20 billion in investments at risk and result in the loss of thousands of jobs in Louisiana.

Kennedy also disputed any environmental justification for the policy, asserting that natural gas has played a significant role in reducing carbon emissions in the United States. He noted that from 2005 to 2019, natural gas contributed to a 32% reduction in American carbon emissions while creating 1.4 million manufacturing jobs and reducing heating costs for families.

In a letter addressed to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Kennedy expressed his opposition to the proposed pause on LNG export permits, describing it as an "unjustifiably bad policy." However, he criticized the Biden administration for disregarding his concerns and attempting to bury the announcement of the policy in a Friday news dump.

Kennedy concluded his op-ed by vowing to block every nominee President Biden puts forward for the State and Energy Departments until the administration changes its stance on LNG production. He stated, "Until President Biden drops this battle against American energy, I'm going to block every nominee he tries to place at the State and Energy Departments. Like the Terminator, I'll be back again and again to stop his nominees and remind the world that he's intentionally killing jobs and threatening our national security to placate confused climate extremists."

Senator Kennedy's stance on the Biden administration's LNG policy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding energy production and environmental concerns. The senator argues that the permit pause not only jeopardizes investments and jobs but also fails to acknowledge the positive role of natural gas in reducing carbon emissions. As Kennedy takes a hardline approach by blocking nominees, the future of LNG production and America's energy policies remain uncertain.