In a move that has sparked controversy, President Joe Biden has postponed a significant fossil fuel project, Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2), which was slated to be the largest natural gas export terminal in the United States.
The decision, first reported by The New York Times, is part of a broader review of the project's potential impact on the climate crisis and other related issues. The Independent has reached out to the White House for further comment.
The CP2 project falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Energy Department, which, according to The Times, has never previously rejected a natural gas project due to potential environmental concerns. This decision comes as a surprise to many, particularly young voters who prioritize climate issues and supported Biden in the 2020 election based on his commitment to combat the climate crisis. However, these voters have expressed increasing disappointment as major oil and gas operations, including the vast Willow project in Alaska, have been approved.
Despite the United States positioning itself as a global leader in climate change, it remains the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), surpassing its closest competitors, Qatar and Australia. The majority of U.S.-produced LNG is exported to Europe, which has reduced its reliance on Russian gas following the Ukraine conflict.
Natural gas, a fossil fuel, primarily consists of methane, a gas that has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the short term. At the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai last month, U.S. presidential climate envoy John Kerry underscored the importance of reducing methane emissions to keep the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees within reach.
Currently, the U.S. has a dozen LNG terminals in operation or under construction, and the fossil fuel industry has proposed building a dozen more facilities from Texas to Florida. Critics argue that these facilities pose a threat to local economies, including fishing communities, harm local ecosystems and public health, and increase energy costs.
The CP2 project, planned by Venture Global in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, would be the largest of these facilities. If operating at full capacity, the gas burned would contribute 190 million tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere each year, equivalent to emissions from 51 coal-fired power plants, according to a letter sent to Biden last month by 170 scientists.
Venture Global spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes expressed concern about the decision, stating, "It appears that individuals within the White House are trying to force policymaking through leaks to the media. This continues to create uncertainty about whether our allies can rely on U.S. LNG for their energy security."
She further warned that if the leaked report from anonymous White House sources is accurate, it could signal a moratorium on the entire U.S. LNG industry, which would have significant implications for the global energy market and potentially force the world to pivot to coal.
The group of 170 scientists also warned that the U.S.'s current and planned LNG projects would lead to 3.9 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year, more than the entire carbon footprint of the European Union.
Climate advocates have responded to the news with cautious optimism. Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Energy Justice program, stated, "We would welcome the Biden administration pausing the monstrous, climate-killing CP2 project, but a pause isnt enough."
Bill McKibben, founder of the climate groups 350.org and Third Act, also praised the decision, stating, "With this decision, President Biden--who already can claim to have done more to bolster clean energy than any of his predecessors--has also done more to check dirty energy, halting the largest fossil fuel expansion in history.
However, the decision has been criticized by Republicans, with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell stating, "The Biden Administrations war on affordable domestic energy has been bad news for American workers and consumers alike.
Former President Donald Trump, who is likely to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has previously dismissed the climate crisis as a hoax and promised to dismantle climate policy if he wins the November election.
Login