In late March, Texas joined a federal lawsuit with 15 other states, led by Louisiana, to challenge the Biden administration’s executive order that halted new permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals exporting fracked gas. This move by Texas has sparked criticism from various quarters, including the oil industry, Texas GOP, and Republicans in Congress.
The House of Representatives previously passed a bill in February, known as House Resolution 7176, aimed at reversing Biden’s permitting pause by shifting the authority to approve LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries from the Department of Energy (DOE) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Joe Biden (Credits: The White House)
However, opposition to Biden’s policies is not limited to the political right. Over 560 global environmental, climate, health, and advocacy organizations signed a letter urging the administration to expand the permitting freeze across all federal agencies and commissions.
They argue that halting LNG exports and fossil fuel infrastructure is necessary to align with the International Energy Agency’s assessment of climate goals.
Despite the export pause’s impact on pending LNG terminals, the United States continues to lead in LNG exports, with plans for rapid expansion. One such project is the Rio Grande LNG terminal in Texas, which has already begun its land clearing phase, causing concern over environmental damage and impacts on local communities, particularly Indigenous and Latiné populations.
President Joe Biden (Credits: ABC News)
Efforts to challenge LNG projects in Texas involve legal actions, grassroots organizing, and political activism. Groups like the South Texas Environmental Justice Network are mobilizing against these projects, targeting financial institutions, legal avenues, and local political processes to resist LNG infrastructure development.
The situation underscores broader debates on environmental justice, climate change, and the role of fossil fuel industries in local economies. It also highlights the complex interplay between federal policies, state actions, and community responses in shaping energy and environmental outcomes.
