Speaker Mike Johnson, Cassidy, Kennedy blast Biden for order to delay Louisiana LNG project

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Louisiana Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy blasted President Biden's decision to pause pending liquefied natural gas terminals, including one in their home state.

Johnson, Cassidy, Kennedy and others said the decision to delay permits for the LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish and 17 others harms the Louisiana and U.S. economy and empowers Russia by expanding demand for that country's liquified natural gas.

"President Biden’s decision to place a pause on pending natural gas export terminals is outrageous," Johnson, who represents northwestern Louisiana's 4th Congressional District, said in a statement. "By bending the knee to climate activists, the president is empowering Russia, weakening U.S. energy security, and forcing Europe’s reliance on dirty, Russian exports."

Biden, who promised to cut air pollution in half by 2030, issued his order Friday to delay the projects.

Biden's Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the pause gives her agency time to better analyze LNG projects to “avoid export authorizations that diminish our domestic energy availability, weaken our security or undermine our economy.’’

Critics of the order said the pause won't decrease fossil fuel usage that environmentalists say is heating up the earth to dangerous levels and that it will instead allow Russia to increase its exports to better fund its invasion of Ukraine.

Cassidy and Kennedy joined 23 other senators in issuing a letter to Biden calling his actions "reckless."

“This ‘LNG Plan’ drafted without input from Congress could have significant economic, environmental and national security consequences domestically and globally," they wrote. "It would be reckless to jeopardize our advantage, especially in a world where energy is frequently being used as a geopolitical weapon."

"... countries including Russia and Iran will simply produce more energy that is subject to less stringent environmental regulations," they wrote. "As a result, limiting American LNG exports in the name of stopping climate change could do just the opposite and add to global emissions."

Tommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, said Biden's order creates "unnecessary hurdles" for the industry.

“Louisiana LNG exports ensure the energy needs of our international allies are met without a threat to their national security and in a manner that supports our nation’s climate goals," Faucheux said in a statement. "The administration’s actions (Friday) will have signification impacts on energy security and could slow global climate progress.”

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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Speaker Mike Johnson blasts Biden for order to delay Louisiana LNG project