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Deputy U.S. Energy Secretary David Turk will testify before the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 9:30 ET (1430
GMT), in a hearing called by Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat
from natural gas producing West Virginia.
Manchin has said if the pause "is just another political ploy to
pander to ... climate activists at the expense of American
workers, businesses, and our allies in need, I will do
everything in my power to end this pause immediately."
Biden paused the approvals indefinitely so his administration
can take a "hard look" at the environmental and economic impacts
of the booming industry.
The U.S. took the spot as the world's top LNG exporter last year
and the shipments are expected to double by the end of the
decade on projects already approved.
Environmentalists and youth groups, an important part of Biden's
base, had pressured Biden to slow approvals of fossil fuel
projects on concerns about their emissions of greenhouse gases.
Domestic businesses ranging from chemicals, steel, food and
agriculture, also oppose unrestricted exports of U.S. gas,
saying it could raise fuel prices.
It is unclear how opponents of the pause can overturn it.
Legislation in both the Senate and the House of Representatives
would strip the Department of Energy's power to approve exports,
giving all approvals to the independent Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC).
But it is hard to pass legislation in an election year. Even if
it passed the House, the legislation would likely struggle in
the Senate, led by Democrats.
"Even if Congress successfully intervenes, the approach of
moving review to FERC and deeming exports to be in the public
interest seems too strong for Democrats, and compromise language
– with a murkier impact – would be likely in our view," said
Benjamin Salisbury, analyst at Height Capital Markets.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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