Biden approval of gas project draws flak from environmental groups

On Thursday, the Biden administration quietly approved an Alaskan project to export liquid natural gas (LNG) to other countries, drawing the ire of environmentalists.

The Department of Energy notified The Alaska Gasoline Development Corp (AGDC) that it had approved them to move forward with a $39 billion fossil fuel project to send 929 billion cubic feet worth of natural gas per year to countries with which the U.S. does not have free trade agreements.

That approval will last 30 years. The AGDC will likely begin exporting in 2030 and is "expected to expand markets for American LNG, especially in Asian countries," according to Power the Future. 

Such a move has drawn criticism from environmentalists to whom Biden himself promised he would "end fossil fuel." Environmentalist group Friends of the Earth Action’s Lukas Ross responded to the news, claiming "Joe Biden’s climate presidency is flying off the rails." The group collectively accused the president of "throw[ing] his promises to be a climate leader out the window."

Climate activist group Greenpeace USA also took aim at Biden, calling the project "disastrous" and that it’s "[t]he wrong direction for our people and planet."

Anti-fossil fuel group 350 said the approval "betrays" people on the "frontlines of climate chaos."

Meanwhile, Alaska State Director for Power The Future Rick Whitbeck applauded Biden for the move, saying it was a sign he "finally acknowledges the key role fossil fuels play in our energy future."

"It's unfortunate that it took President Biden over two years to realize his 'America-last' priorities have killed U.S. jobs, empowered China and led to increased costs for American families," Whitbeck added, calling the pro-fossil fuel move a "worthwhile project."

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