DOE Official Argues LNG Permit Pause Bolsters Approvals’ Legal Defense

A top Energy Department (DOE) official is arguing that the Biden administration’s pause in approving new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports will ultimately boost the legal defense of any future approvals, given likely claims from environmentalists that officials would be relying on out-of-date analysis without such a policy review. “We have a strong record of defending our Natural Gas Act [NGA] determinations [including LNG export approvals] because they’ve relied on well-supported and up-to-date analysis,” said Brad Crabtree, chief of DOE’s...