Biden administration withheld report on LNG export emissions

The Biden administration is facing criticism for not releasing a report about U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Trump administration officials claim that this report did not show a significant link between increased LNG exports and greenhouse gas emissions. Senior officials say that the Biden administration stalled the publication of this study for more than a year. The report, finished by September 2023, was meant to be shared with the House Oversight Committee but was delayed. The document was titled "Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports." This study concluded that increasing LNG exports and natural gas production did not noticeably change greenhouse gas emissions or energy prices for American consumers. Critics argue that the administration made misleading statements about the environmental impact of LNG exports. The report was finally shared with the House Oversight Committee recently, after months of requests. The findings contradict claims made by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and the Biden administration about price increases and environmental effects. In 2023, the U.S. became the largest energy exporter, especially to Europe following the gas supply crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. This increase in exports led to pressure from progressive Democrats for a pause on new LNG terminals, which Biden announced in January 2024. However, instead of releasing the comprehensive report earlier, the Biden administration continued to withhold it. This has led to accusations of misrepresentation regarding the impact of LNG exports on consumers and the environment. A similar report released in December 2024 indicated potential price rises for consumers, which further fueled the ongoing debate.