The Biden administration is reassessing the environmental standards applied in approving upcoming liquefied natural gas export facilities, potentially causing delays in ongoing projects as the 2024 election approaches.
A group of government officials, assembled by White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi, recently gathered to formulate a policy recommendation for President Joe Biden.
This information comes from two individuals familiar with the matter who lacked authorization to speak publicly.
The officials convened on Saturday, and while President Biden has been briefed on the matter, he has not reached a decision, according to a second source.
Biden finds himself in the challenging position of reconciling conflicting geopolitical and domestic considerations.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he pledged to increase the gas supply to Europe.
However, with the impending election, every approval of fossil fuel projects during his tenure is under intense scrutiny from environmentally conscious voters crucial to his reelection.
Meanwhile, these discussions follow closely on the heels of a recent agreement between the United States and nearly 200 other nations at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, signaling a collective move towards transitioning away from fossil fuels.
According to an unidentified senior official within the US administration, the Department of Energy, responsible for granting export permits, is currently assessing whether it adequately considers the climate impact of proposed plants. Politico first reported on this development.
While an Energy Department spokeswoman stated that there are no updates available on the approval process, the White House refrained from providing immediate comments.
[…] on climate change, the economy, and national security. This temporary halt is expected to create disruptions in planned multi-billion-dollar […]