Alaska Republican hits Biden over pause on natural gas exports: ‘Makes no sense’

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) criticized President Biden for his decision to pause approvals of some natural gas export facilities, saying the announcement “makes no sense.”

“Once again, they are letting the far left and John Kerry, can’t wait until he leaves the White House by the way, drive policies that make no sense and this one actually makes no sense in any way shape or form,” Sullivan told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby of the “Cats & Cosby” show.

His comment on Kerry, who currently serves as the U.S. climate envoy, comes after reports the former Secretary of State is stepping down to assist with Biden’s reelection campaign.

The White House said Friday that the current analyses the Energy Department uses to decide whether to authorize liquified natural gas (LNG) to be exported do not “adequately account” for domestic energy costs or planet-warming emissions.

The administration has temporarily paused pending decisions on approving exports to countries that the U.S. does not have free trade agreements with. It will be in effect until the Energy Department updates how it conducts an analysis.

Sullivan argued the decision shuts down American energy and hurts workers and the environment “because when you ship clean burning American natural gas to Asia or Europe, you actually lower emissions.”

The Alaska senator also suggested it could force other countries to go to Russia for oil and gas resources. The decision will empower Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said.

“They’re essentially saying, ‘keep buying Russian gas. Keep funding the Putin war machine’ because the far-left radicals in America are telling Joe Biden what to do,” Sullivan said. “And he listens to them. It’s crazy.”

In a written statement, Biden said climate change was a factor in pausing the exports. He said the administration will “take a hard look” at the impacts of the exports and costs on America’s “energy, security and our environment.”

Senate Energy Committee Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) vowed to investigate the pause on LNG exports and said the decision was based on political consideration instead of facts.

Members of the European Union have criticized oil companies from making Europe “an excuse” to continue expanding LNG exports amid Russia’s war with Ukraine.