New DOE Study Reveals LNG Exports Pose Major Risks

WASHINGTON, DC- A long-awaited study from the Department of Energy highlights the devastating environmental and economic impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Commissioned to ensure LNG export reviews are compliant with the law, the study reveals that LNG exports drive significant methane emissions, exacerbate the climate crisis, and harm frontline communities.

The report, which will be used to help determine if new LNG export facilities are in the public interest, provides long overdue analysis on the full lifecycle impacts of LNG production-from methane leakage during extraction to the energy-intensive liquefaction, transport, and regasification processes-and finds that unfettered LNG exports are flatly incompatible with meeting domestic and global climate goals.

Additionally, the study highlights how LNG exports raise domestic energy costs and delay and displace the global transition to renewable energy by locking importing countries into long-term fossil fuel dependence.

Following is a reaction from Gillian Giannetti, senior attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"This report highlights the stark and obvious reality that ever-expanding LNG exports are not in the public interest. LNG exports threaten frontline communities and American pocketbooks. The extraction, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases, worsening the climate crisis.

"Based on this study, the Department of Energy should deny the six pending LNG permits and implement a transparent, science-based review process that prioritizes the public interest of everyday Americans over the profits of fossil fuel companies."

Background:

The new report shows that increasing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports harms the climate, raises household energy costs, and endangers frontline communities with pollution. Exports worsen methane emissions and health risks, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize people and the planet over fossil fuel expansion.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).