Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC - Republicans in the House of Representatives will put forward a bill to fast-track permitting of facilities that export methane gas overseas. The House Rules Committee noticed last night that H.R. 1130 could be brought to the floor next week. This move comes as Congress is tasked with passing a bill to fund the government by September 30th.
In the U.S. there are already eight existing methane gas export terminals - also called LNG terminals - and more than 30 proposed terminals or expansions. These LNG export facilities would perpetuate environmental injustice by exacerbating harm to communities, largely on the Gulf Coast, that are already overburdened by fossil fuel pollution and the impacts of extreme weather driven by climate change. Many of the proposed facilities have been delayed and failed to move forward because the financing is risky, the projects all face legal challenges, and, as a result, are struggling to line up investors and buyers as Europe doubles-down on renewable energy sources.
H.R. 1130 would make it easier to approve LNG exports by removing the first three sections of the Natural Gas Act, which require a public interest determination for gas exports to non-free trade agreement countries. It would also make permitting of gas export projects exclusively the responsibility of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“Yet again, extreme House Republicans are damaging the reputation of the U.S. Government and endangering the physical and financial security of the nation in order to give more handouts to their friends and donors in the fossil fuel industry. This bill would fast-track methane gas export projects that raise domestic energy prices, further pollute overburdened communities on the Gulf Coast and elsewhere, and make it impossible to meet our climate goals. We have seen this story before. Congressional Republicans should do their job and fund the government, rather than waste time on partisan proposals that will go nowhere. It’s time for the GOP to get down to the business of governing instead of trying to further pad the bottom line of a few fossil fuel CEOs.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.