Feb 1, 2024 - Energy & Climate

What's next in the big LNG fight

Ben Geman

Image of Vote sign — Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

The next moves in the battle over President Biden's pause on new liquefied natural gas export approvals are coming into sharper focus.

Why it matters: Backers and critics are fighting a well-financed battle to sway the eventual policy outcome — and 2024 politics while Biden's review unfolds.

What's next: House energy committee Republicans announced a Feb. 6 hearing; the Senate's energy panel has a Feb. 8 session.

Look for Republicans and Senate Energy Chairman Joe Manchin (D) to strongly attack the pause.
And look for House Republicans to bring up legislation to require approvals.

The other side: The League of Conservation Voters announced a $2 million TV, digital and ground effort to rally support for the White House action.

It's a taste of election-year messaging by climate and industry groups.

The intrigue: Like many energy fights, this one heavily partisan, but also partly regional.

The Washington Examiner reports that Pennsylvania's Democratic senators — whose state is major gas producer — oppose Biden's move.

Catch up fast: Biden officials last week halted approvals while they review the climate, market and security basis for permits.

The bottom line: The review will unfold behind closed doors, but it will be noisy outside them.

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What's next in the big LNG fight

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