North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues have introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, a bill aimed at depoliticizing the export of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). The bill eliminates the requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize LNG exports and instead gives sole authority over the approval process to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The introduction of this legislation comes shortly after President Biden's decision to pause approvals of pending applications for LNG exports. This move has been seen as a major victory for both Russian President Vladimir Putin and far-left climate activists. However, Senator Tillis believes that this decision is detrimental to American energy independence and will only increase global reliance on Russia and other unfavorable actors.

In response to the President's decision, Senator Tillis states, "President Biden’s decision to halt the export of American liquefied natural gas is yet another example of this Administration’s misguided and harmful energy policies. We must ramp up energy production here at home instead of relying on foreign adversaries, utilize our abundant natural resources, and unleash American energy independence."

It is important to note that U.S. gas exports have significantly increased in the past decade, making America the largest natural gas exporter in the world. This has led to a growing demand for American energy from international partners in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and elsewhere. For instance, European allies have become increasingly reliant on U.S. LNG due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The introduction of the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act puts the Biden Administration in a position where they must choose between strengthening U.S. national security by supporting allies and partners or yielding to the demands of progressive activists.

The full text of the bill can be found [HERE](link to the bill).