WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. extended the comment period on a federal study into the economic and environmental impacts of rising liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports after advisers urged President Donald Trump to take a patient approach to prevent the approval being overturned in court.
The U.S. Department of Energy said late Tuesday it was extending the comment period from Feb. 18 to March 20 to get “appropriate input from stakeholders.”
Trump has promised swift action to reverse former President Joe Biden’s pause on approvals for LNG exports to major markets in Asia and Europe. On his first day in office, Trump lifted the freeze by ordering the DOE to continue reviewing applications.
However, the actual export approval will take time. Trump’s advisers have urged him to take a patient approach to restarting LNG export approvals, fearing that quick approvals will only be overturned in court, Reuters reported on January 7.
The advisers recommended extending the comment period to give LNG interests time to challenge the study and help thwart potential lawsuits when they approve pending export permits.
While the US was set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter in 2023, Biden’s moratorium delayed projects including Venture Global’s CP2 project, the Commonwealth LNG plant and Energy transfer (NYSE:) Lake Charles complex, all in Louisiana.
Biden ordered the recess about a year ago to conduct the study, which his administration said showed the government needed to be cautious about the climate impacts of unfettered LNG exports.
The DOE also said it has directed the Office of Fossil Energy Carbon Management to continue reviewing pending LNG export applications.
