Trump administration limits environmental oversight in natural gas export decisions
The Department of Energy said it lacks the authority to weigh environmental effects when approving natural gas export projects, shifting away from the broader review approach used under President Biden.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The Trump administration released a response to a 2024 Biden-era study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, stating environmental concerns are outside the Department of Energy’s (DOE) purview.
- The DOE’s new stance diverges from the previous administration, which had paused LNG project approvals to review environmental and societal impacts.
- Officials also dismissed concerns over rising consumer costs, calling projected price hikes from gas exports “modest.”
Key quote:
“No matter how hard they try to hide it, Trump’s DOE can not bury the truth that increased LNG exports are simply not in the public interest.”
— Mahyar Sorour, policy director, Sierra Club Beyond Fossil Fuels
Why this matters:
Exporting LNG locks in decades of fossil fuel infrastructure, raising concerns among environmental advocates and public health experts. These terminals often operate near low-income and marginalized communities, which face the brunt of air pollution from gas processing and transport. Elevated exposure to fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds around these facilities has been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer risks. Meanwhile, LNG exports incentivize more natural gas drilling, including fracking, which brings its own suite of health and environmental hazards. As the DOE steps back, key regulatory scrutiny may fall to other agencies or be left unaddressed entirely. That raises the risk of expanding fossil fuel infrastructure without fully accounting for its long-term toll on climate and health.
Learn more: Louisiana expands LNG exports as Trump fast-tracks new terminal permits
