Looking to counter what they call a phony narrative, Pennsylvania House Republicans hope a public hearing will explain why the White House’s temporary ban on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) exports damages the state’s economy.
“The world is a better place with Pennsylvania energy,” House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua Kail (R-Beaver) told DVJournal. He and Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) are hosting Monday’s hearing at the state Capitol. “If we leverage our resources…we can do more for our jobs here. We can do more for our manufacturing. Our consumers can pay less on electricity costs.”
The natural gas industry has become a driving force in the state’s economy. U.S. Energy Information Administration statistics show that Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural gas-producing state in the nation, behind Texas.
That economy expanded further after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. American LNG exports to Europe jumped 119 percent that year as the EU cut its reliance on Russian gas. Germany, Great Britain, France, Holland, Poland, and Spain were the biggest purchasers of U.S. LNG.
Natural gas industry supporters fear that could change in the future due to the Biden administration’s LNG export ban.
“It makes little sense to withhold such an important resource from our allies,” Kurt Knaus, a spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, told DVJournal. “When they are more reliant on energy supplies from our adversaries than us, the world is less secure. American LNG — produced with Pennsylvania gas — can change the equation.”
Biden ruffled feathers in Pennsylvania political circles when he announced the moratorium in January.
John Fetterman and Bob Casey Jr., the state’s two U.S. senators and members of Biden’s own party, sent the White House a letter weeks later announcing their opposition. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat, later argued the pause needed to be short.
While the nine Democrats representing Pennsylvania in Congress—including Delaware Valley Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Madelaine Dean—voted against a bill that overturned the LNG export pause; the state’s eight Republicans in Congress supported it.
Polls consistently show Pennsylvanians favor natural gas production.
An Axis Research survey from March discovered that 58 percent of Pennsylvania voters disagree with the LNG moratorium. More than 40 percent threatened not to vote for Biden in November because of the policy. A separate poll from co/efficient showed that two-thirds of Pennsylvania residents want expanded LNG exports to help create energy sector jobs. That poll also showed that 87 percent believe energy security is as important as national security.
“When the administration announced it was pausing approvals of new LNG export projects, the reaction was swift, bipartisan, and global in scale,” Knaus said. “The federal moratorium, even if temporary, is foolish, dangerous, and harmful to the U.S. economy and our allies overseas.”
Kail said that Monday’s hearing could change even more minds.
“People need to know the truth,” he said. “And anytime we can talk about the truth in public and talk about the benefits of Pennsylvania’s energy in public, if it reaches one set of ears it’s worth it.”
The hearing will also include organizations such as the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, EQT Corporation, and Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council.
