Biden Rushing Study That Threatens to Slow Trump's LNG Plans
Source: Bloomberg
November 7, 2024 at 9:05 AM EST
Updated on November 7, 2024 at 6:06 PM EST
The Biden administration is racing to complete a study that could complicate President-Elect Donald Trumps plan to immediately approve new liquefied natural gas export terminals, according to people familiar with the matter.
The study, underway since January, examines the climate, economic and national security implications of increasing US exports of the fuel. Biden launched it while imposing a halt on new LNG export licenses, a moratorium Trump has vowed to end on his first day back in the White House. Should the study find additional exports cause more harm than good, or add new conditions to them, the new administrations project approvals could be challenged in court.
If Trump wants to say Yes on day one, and there is a study that says Yes isnt in the public interest, then those approvals might be targets of legal challenges, said Kevin Book, managing director of consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners.
The Energy Department is trying to complete the study this month, according to people familiar with the matter. It remains to be seen if that goal, which was set prior to Trumps electoral victory this week, will be met, the people said. The Energy Department has vowed not to finalize the study until a 60-day public comment period expires, leaving a narrow window to ensure its in effect before Trump takes office on Jan. 20. The department did not respond to a request for comment.
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-07/biden-rushing-study-that-threatens-to-slow-trump-s-lng-plans
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