WASHINGTON, D.C. (KLFY)-- Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is celebrating a recent court decision to resume the approval process for new liquid natural gas (LNG) exports.
U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr. lifted the Biden administration’s five-month ban on export permits. This ban delayed several Louisiana projects by at least a year.
“It was going to cause material harm to our state and other states, and it was going to cause material harm to the families that would be employed building those export facilities,” Cassidy said.
Almost one in every eight jobs in Louisiana depends on the natural gas industry. Senator Cassidy said Judge Cain’s decision was a win.
“When you unleash U.S. natural gas production and exports, it creates high paying jobs, and it’s a boost to our economy,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy emphasized that the ban threatened $61 billion worth of natural gas projects scheduled to be built in Louisiana. With the court's decision, these projects to build more facilities can now continue to seek approval.
While the energy department is not required to authorize any of these new natural gas permits, it must review them.
Environmental groups remain adamant that no new LNG projects should be built.
“This isn’t about whether U.S. LNG is cleaner than other LNG,” Mahyar Sorour, director of Beyond Fossil Fuels policy with the Sierra Club, said. “This is about the fact that the US has an obligation to transition away from fossil fuels.”
The White House said it was disappointed in Judge Cain’s ruling.
“While congressional Republicans and their allies continue to deny the very existence of climate change, President Biden is committed to combating the climate crisis,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, said.
It is very likely that the Biden administration will appeal Judge Cain’s decision. However, Senator Cassidy remains confident that it won’t succeed.
