Thu Sep 19 08:00:47 UTC 2024: ## Oil and Gas Industry Targets Biden’s LNG Export Moratorium

**HOUSTON, TX** – The oil and gas industry is putting pressure on the Biden administration to reverse its moratorium on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits, labeling it a key policy they aim to change under the next US president.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, speaking at the GasTech conference, called the moratorium a “failure” that “elevates politics over progress.” He argued that the policy would raise energy costs, threaten supplies for US allies in Europe, and increase emissions by slowing the transition from coal to gas.

The White House imposed the moratorium in January, citing the need to scrutinize the environmental and national security implications of LNG shipments. The decision sent shockwaves through the industry, threatening a construction boom in Gulf Coast terminals that had established the US as the world’s largest LNG exporter.

Industry leaders, facing a surplus of natural gas, have contested the policy. While a federal judge in Louisiana temporarily lifted the moratorium in July, the Energy Department is appealing the ruling. Despite the challenges, the US is still on track to double LNG export capacity by 2030.

The industry emphasizes the role of natural gas in replacing more polluting coal in power generation. They argue that switching to gas from coal globally “could represent the single greatest carbon reduction initiative in history.”

However, environmental groups remain skeptical of the claim, highlighting methane emissions from gas-gathering systems and the energy required to chill LNG. The Energy Department, while acknowledging the potential for natural gas to displace coal, emphasizes the need for concrete action to ensure a path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

While both US presidential candidates have expressed support for fracking, some industry executives express concern about the potential impact of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has yet to comment on whether she would reverse the LNG ban.

The debate surrounding natural gas as a transition fuel continues, with the industry advocating for a more balanced conversation about the future of energy, informed by science and data.

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