Tuberville, Palmer announce opposition to Biden’s 'dangerous' natural gas rollback

On Friday, Congressman Gary Palmer and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville both announced their opposition to a new Biden administration executive order freezing the construction of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. Palmer said that this comes at a time where the United States became the world’s leading exporter of LNG in 2023.

The Biden Administration stated the pause was necessary for the government to study the impact of new terminals on climate change.

Palmer (R-Hoover) said the Biden Administration’s policy will cause the deaths of more Europeans.

“The Biden administration’s energy policies are not only draining people’s income; they are also dangerous to the peoples’ health. Just last year, it was reported that 68,000 people died in Europe classified as ‘excess winter deaths’ because they could not afford to keep their homes adequately warmed,” said Rep. Palmer.

“These were generally older people with respiratory or cardiovascular issues who could not afford their food and medicine and their high utility bills to keep their residences at a safe temperature. This decision to freeze construction of LNG facilities will make natural gas more expensive and put more lives in jeopardy in Europe and in the U.S., but that is where the Biden administration and their Democrat collaborators in Congress are leading us. They believe climate change is an existential threat, but their policies have made them a threat not only to Americans’ economic and physical well-being, but also to the well-being of our allies. I will work with my Republican colleagues to roll back these dangerous policies being forced upon the American people and to bring forth policies that make energy reliable, affordable, and cleaner.”

Sen. Tuberville joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and 24 other Republican colleagues in a letter blasting the Biden administration’s halt of all liquified natural gas (LNG) export permit applications in their effort to placate the climate lobby.

The letter was sent to President Biden and Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

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

“U.S. LNG exports have served as a vital lifeline for countries in Europe and across the globe. Nearly half of U.S. LNG exports have been delivered to Europe to date, with a significant increase in exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the Senator continued.

“When European imports of LNG increased by 60 percent in 2022, U.S. LNG met that demand. Without U.S. LNG exports, European leaders would have to decide between depriving their own citizens of energy or actively funding Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

Rep. Palmer dismissed claims by the environmental left that the U.S. is facing an environmental crisis.

“Just two weeks ago, the House Republican Policy Committee produced a report proving our environment has, in fact, improved since the 1980s,” Rep. Palmer continued. “The American people should look at the evidence themselves because the Biden administration can’t be trusted to have their best interests in mind.”

According to the report, by most standards, air quality in the United States is cleaner than 40 years ago. Since 1980, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants measured by the EPA have decreased by 60% even while American energy production has increased. Over this period, the percentage of AQI readings listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse in the nation’s Core-Based Statistical Areas has declined by 91%.

Sen. Tuberville has also joined a letter requesting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, withdraw the Clean Power Plan 2.0 proposed rule which will make electricity much more expensive for many Americans.

Tuberville also joined in a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, raising their concern about a proposed rule by the DOE that increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers – critical grid products – at a time when the availability of essential grid components remains a significant challenge for the electric power industry, and while the industry is struggling due to a substantial increase in demand, supply chain issues, and skilled workforce shortage.

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