White House cites climate in pause on new liquified natural gas export terminals

The Biden administration announced a pause on applications for liquified natural gas export terminals on Friday to consider their impact on climate change, a major step coming from the world’s largest exporter of natural gas.

The Department of Energy will be launching a review to determine how to factor in the impact of climate change in whether to approve new natural gas export facilities but will not halt current natural gas exports.

It would be the first time the federal government has considered blocking this kind of project because it could contribute to climate change.

Liquified natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas that has been cooled to make it easier to transport. In 2023, the U.S. became the largest LNG exporter in the world, partly due to the increase in domestic production and construction of new LNG export terminals, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In a statement announcing the news, President Joe Biden said the pause comes as part of his focus to do more on climate change.

«From Day One, my Administration has set the United States on an unprecedented course to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad – securing the largest climate investment in the history of the world, unlocking clean energy breakthroughs that will power a clean economy and create thousands of jobs, advancing environmental justice for all, and rallying world leaders to transition away from the fossil fuels that jeopardize our planet and our people,» Biden said in a statement.

«But more action is needed,» he continued.

There will be an exception, Biden said, for " unanticipated and immediate national security emergencies."

«During this period, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs,