Ed Markey @markey.senate.gov:
DOE’s study on LNG exports confirms what we’ve long known.
LNG exports are bad for communities’ health, climate, & energy prices—and could cost US households over $100/year.
Now, DOE must reject unnecessary & harmful LNG export applications before it’s too late.
Senator Markey Statement on Department of Energy LNG Export Study Press Release by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), Dec 17, 2024
Washington (December 17, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement after the Department of Energy released its study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
“This study confirms what I’ve been saying for years – surging LNG exports are bad for consumer pocketbooks, bad for communities near its extraction and export infrastructure, and bad for a cleaner and healthy future. This Energy Department study includes strong findings that bolster arguments that LNG exports are not in the public interest. While I had hoped the study would recommend the United States stop LNG exports altogether, this study at least lays out clear evidence for why this unprecedented boom in fossil fuel exports is harmful. I continue to urge the Biden administration to reject pending LNG export applications based on all the existing evidence that LNG exports increase costs here at home and increase greenhouse gas emissions. Our allies abroad don’t need these fossil fuels, Americans don’t need these exports, and our climate doesn’t need more pollution — the only ones who benefit from this bonanza are big fossil fuel executives. Unless the Trump administration wants to raise costs for American households by more than $100 a year, it should stop LNG exports, too.”
In November 2024, Senator Markey led an open letter alongside more than 130 international lawmakers during this year’s United Nations global climate conference, COP29, urging world leaders and UN-level negotiators to support an immediate moratorium on the expansion of LNG infrastructure worldwide.
In September 2024, Senator Markey led a letter alongside more than 100 international lawmakers to the Biden administration urging it to reject new LNG exports.
In July 2024, Senator Markey, along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sent a letter to the Department of Energy urging it to consider the disproportionate negative impacts of LNG exports on New England, as the department considers updates to its underlying environmental and economic analyses to improve export authorization decisions for LNG.
In May 2023, Senator Markey and Representative Yvette Clarke (NY-09) announced the reintroduction of the Block All New (BAN) Fossil Fuel Exports Act (S. 1707), legislation that would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and ban the export of American crude oil and natural gas abroad to protect frontline communities from dangerous export infrastructure, prioritize U.S. consumers against fossil fuel profiteering, and help ensure the United States meets its climate and clean energy commitments on the world stage.
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Dr. Sandra Steingraber@ssteingraber1.bsky.social:
Feels like it might be helpful to post the link to the unabridged, long-awaited, just-released DOE report on LNG—and all its appendices—instead of just giving you a take.
My take: LNG is a climate disaster, a public health menace, and makes no economic sense.
2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports
On December 17, 2024, the Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management (FECM) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gave notice of availability of the 2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports. This multi-volume study updates DOE’s understanding of the potential effects of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the domestic economy; U.S. households and consumers; communities that live near locations where natural gas is produced or exported; domestic and internation energy security, including effects of U.S. trading partners; and the environment and climate (Study or 2024 LNG Export Study). DOE intends to use the Study to inform its public interest review of, and ultimately decisions in, certain applications to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA applications), future proceedings, and for other purposes.
The 2024 LNG Export Study is composed of a summary report and four appendices containing three coordinated modeled analyses and a qualitative literature review.
· Appendix A: Global Energy and Greenhouse Gas Implications of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of the global market demand for U.S. LNG exports across a range of scenarios and the global emissions impacts of increased U.S. LNG exports through 2050.
· Appendix B: Domestic Energy, Economic, and Greenhouse Gas Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of the implications of the various U.S. LNG export levels on the U.S. economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
· Appendix C: Consequential Greenhouse Gas Analysis of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of global GHG emissions in response to increased U.S. LNG exports.
· Appendix D: Addendum on Environmental and Community Effects of U.S. LNG Exports. A literature review of the effects of upstream, midstream and downstream natural gas production and exports on the environment and on local communities.
DOE invites the submission of comments regarding the 2024 LNG Export Study. Comments may include, among other things, data, reports, studies, or personal testimony. The Study and comments received will be included in the dockets of the long-term LNG export proceedings identified in the Federal Register Notice announcing the release of the Study. DOE does not intend to revise the Study upon receipt of the comments. Rather, comments received will inform DOE’s public interest determination in each of the proceedings identified in the Federal Register Notice announcing the release of the Study and future non-FTA export proceedings.
The comment period will begin upon publication in the Federal Register and extend for a 60-day period. The comments submitted appear below.
Comment period closed.
Jesse D. Jenkins@jessedjenkins.com:
Meanwhile, across the Pond, Germany will shutter a key LNG import terminal in the first quarter of 2025, as EU energy crisis eases.
Germany To Shut Down Key LNG Terminal In 2025
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Justin Mikulka@justinmikulka.bsky.social Dec 17, 2024:
And an Irish project flounders as its owners seem great a making debt but not profits.
The LNG pause is real. It’s economic.
Prof. Bob Howarth@profbobhowarth.bsky.social:
Sounds like LNG industry moving quickly towards stranded assets, as predicted by many.
… The solution is to move to beneficial electrification of heating with heat pumps, generating electricity from solar & wind, and developing appropriate thermal & electric storage.
Europe has made tremendous progress on this over past 2 yrs. No need for more LNG from US, or gas from Russia.
Jesse D. Jenkins@jessedjenkins.com Dec 16, 2024:
Plaquemines LNG export facility in LA is now operational, the eighth liquefied natural gas export facility in the U.S. to come online. The facility will be able to produce 20 million metric tons of LNG annually (~2.6 Bcf/day) or ~20% of total 2023 US exports
Dr Elisabeth Kosters@elisabethkosters.bsky.social:
Plaquemines? It’s below sea level, sinking rapidly and in the path of way too many hurricanes. Who made this stupid decision?
Nilo email hidden; JavaScript is required:
It’s kinda darkly amusing that the only buildable infrastructure in this country is LNG terminals. What portion of federal infrastructure construction grants are obligated with NEPA complete and under construction after 30 months?
Paul Wennberg@paulowennberg.bsky.social:
The growing exposure of US NG customers to global LNG prices is going to prove very unpopular.
Tim Donaghy@timdonaghy.bsky.social:
Biden’s LNG studies coming tomorrow. Key findings appear to be that LNG:
— displaces more renewables than coal
— increases emissions in all scenarios
— increases wholesale energy costs by 30%
— increases pollution burdens for communities
David Roberts@volts.wtf:
This has always been my worst fear about climate change: the worse it gets, the more geopolitical chaos it causes; the more geopolitical chaos there is, the harder it is to cooperate to fight climate change.
A ‘doom loop’ of climate change and geopolitical instability is beginning
This is something climate activists have been shouting about for years. Climate change is not a normal problem that you can solve whenever you get around to it.
Literally with every passing day, climate change a) does irreversible damage & b) becomes more difficult to mitigate.
Sarah email hidden; JavaScript is required:
I was thinking this just now listening to a German reporter on the radio saying how the EU is basically going to move away from prioritizing climate change in hopes of stabilizing continental politics by focusing on voters’ economic and immigration concerns at the national level. Disheartening
Brodie@brodieg.bsky.social:
Jesus…they think immigration is bad now. Wait till half the world is unlivable
Nowhere is safe. In my view, collapse of humanity started before I was born (one of the reasons I chose not to have any kids). Climate chaos and monstrous events will hit all life on earth. But, Never fear! MAGA is here! The Brain-dead Trump Rape Klan will order migrants executed, just wait; they give no shits for the law or human life, they only care about their own and stealing more money from the citizenry. USA is already executing masses of innocent citizens to steal their oil and gas via feeding known genocidaire Israel.
Brian Hansbury@brianhansbury.bsky.social:
This is definitely what will happen. Climate chaos is tailor made for fascist exploitation.Much worse are Steve Harper’s extreme “Rapture” Evangelicals in the IDU eagerly and brutally chasing global collapse and destruction. Religion will take out humanity, and it ain’t gonna be pretty or saintly.
Justin email hidden; JavaScript is required:
This is something I have been teaching for a long time—environmental instability = social instability = infrastructure instability = collapse. Jem Bendell and Rupert Read were right about this. Sustainability is not possible in this scenario.
Jamie email hidden; JavaScript is required:
This is equally applicable at the national and municipal level. Carbon pricing is being blamed for food-related inflation in Canada, when in fact climate change itself is a major driver. The sky-high cost of housing is cited as a reason not to require net-zero new housing, etc.
Andy @vicozandy.bsky.social:
The climate crisis is sobering and terrifying, but the reality of society and it’s ability to respond is much worse.
The extreme shitstains running things at most levels will fight anything likely to work, while continuing to make things worse.
That plus momentum -> doomers.
email hidden; JavaScript is required:
Weather was my MOS in US Air Force, 1969. I’ve studied it ever since. I was getting concerned 20 years ago, now very concerned.
The US is concerned about mass migration at the southern border. Climate change will make it worse around the world.
Don Noble@donek311.bsky.social:
They are going to frac Marcellus like it’s day 1 again soon as the new admin green lights additional LNG exports on the east coast.
North America’s LNG export capacity is on track to more than double by 2028
Get out while you can if you have kids:And go where?
Hydraulic Fracturing Epidemiology Research Studies: Childhood Cancer Case-Control Study
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2015: Fracing’s long reach: New Study says Fracking Wells Could Pollute The Air Hundreds Of Miles Away
2010: Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective
For many years, drillers have insisted that they do not use toxic chemicals to drill for gas, only guar gum, mud, and sand. While much attention is being given to chemicals used during fracking, our findings indicate that drilling chemicals can be equally, if not more dangerous.
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1982: Vancouver Sun summed up LNG’s economic life-threatening destructive disaster in a cartoon as assessed by Dome Petroleum.
