The Biden Administration Is Contesting A Court Ruling That Reversed Its Decision To Halt Lng Export Approvals.

The Biden administration has lodged an appeal against a court ruling that halted its freeze on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals.

This appeal marks the latest development in an ongoing legal battle that initiated in January when the White House directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to cease granting new licenses for LNG exports to non-free trade partner countries in an effort to combat climate change.

The temporary freeze aimed to provide the DOE with an opportunity to thoroughly examine the underlying economic and environmental analyses associated with numerous LNG export authorizations. This review would include assessing their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, the economy, and national security.

Environmental groups, who had called on the Biden administration to slow down or halt approvals for LNG export projects, celebrated the temporary moratorium as a significant triumph.

A coalition of 16 states argued, “The LNG Export Ban implicates an issue of profound national importance.” They added that LNG exports contribute billions of dollars to the economy and support thousands of jobs, while also raising national security concerns.

The coalition of states contended that the temporary moratorium violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Congressional Review Act, and the U.S. Constitution. They requested the court to deem the LNG export ban unlawful and overturn it.

On July 1, Judge James Cain Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana ruled in favor of the coalition of states, stating that the DOE’s decision to halt approvals appeared to lack any reasonable or logical justification. He issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the LNG export ban.

The Biden administration’s decision to appeal this ruling indicates their determination to resist the reversal of one of their key policy decisions.


Discover more from Tension News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

By tension

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Tension News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading