Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday that Texas, along with 15 other states, is suing to block the Biden administration’s ban on approving applications for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The lawsuit contends that the federal government does not possess the authority to deny those permits on a broad scale.
President Joe Biden has announced a pause in the approval process for projects that aim to export LNG to Europe and Asia, as these regions have a significant demand for this fuel. This decision is driven by the need to thoroughly evaluate the economic and environmental impacts associated with such projects.
The future of over a dozen LNG export terminals planned for the Gulf of Mexico coast is at stake, according to experts. The pause has sparked widespread concern among environmentalist groups and some local residents.
According to a recent analysis, if all the proposed gas export projects were to transport gas abroad, they would contribute to the release of 3.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases. This staggering amount is equivalent to the total emissions produced by the entire European Union.
“When I announced the pause in January, I stated that this halt on new LNG approvals recognizes the climate crisis for what it truly is – the most pressing existential threat of our time,” emphasized Biden.
Louisiana has also taken legal action against the ban, arguing that it will have detrimental effects on the economy and hinder efforts to provide European allies with a stable supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is particularly crucial as the region aims to reduce its dependence on piped natural gas from Russia.
Texas holds the distinction of being the top producer of crude oil and natural gas in the United States.
“Biden’s action, according to Paxton, completely ignores the statutory requirements, undermines the legal process, disrupts the oil and gas sector, destabilizes the Texas economy, and undermines the constitutional framework,” stated Paxton in the Texas lawsuit.
“The ban will have a detrimental impact on Texas, causing a significant loss of investment in the state. This will not only hinder our ability to generate maximum revenue for public schools but also force Texas producers to resort to flaring excess natural gas instead of bringing it to the market. Furthermore, the ban will result in the elimination of crucial jobs, further exacerbating the negative consequences.”
