Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska is set to deliver a letter at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, urging President Biden’s Climate Envoy John Podesta to reverse the current ban on new LNG exports. The letter emphasizes potential national security and foreign policy consequences resulting from this decision.

Senator Sullivan's letter, co-signed by Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi, John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Jim Risch of Idaho, highlights concerns about the reliability of fuel supply for allied nations amidst ongoing global conflicts. "At a time when war is ongoing in Ukraine and tensions are rising in the Middle East and Asia," the senators state, "it is particularly important that allied nations can rely on the United States for a reliable, long-term fuel supply."

The letter underscores the role of LNG exports in U.S. trade dynamics and global energy markets. It mentions that U.S. LNG exports have contributed significantly to reducing reliance on foreign adversaries like Russia for energy supplies.

The senators also express concerns about domestic economic impacts if the ban remains. They argue that halting LNG approvals could lead to job losses and increased energy prices domestically while diminishing U.S. influence in global markets.

They further contend there is no environmental basis for restricting American natural gas exports, stating it produces fewer greenhouse gases compared to Russian gas.

The call for reversing the decision comes as both Sullivan and Podesta are scheduled to speak at CERAWeek. The outcome of this appeal may affect not only international relations but also domestic economic growth tied to LNG production.