Testimony in House Energy subcommittee field hearing said LNG pause impacts jobs in Texas port city

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee Monday held a field hearing on the impacts of the Biden administration’s pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits on communities.

The Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security held the hearing in Port Arthur, Texas, to look at the issue through testimony of people who live in the coastal Texas city, where an LNG export terminal is being constructed.

Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, whose district includes Port Arthur, said that Port Arthur LNG, LLC was in the process of applying for the permits for a second phase of a project that was to provide the area with jobs and economic activity.

“This abrupt and what I consider to be a politically motivated ban brings that project to a screeching halt,” Weber said.

Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie said the pause “will have a negative impact on the economic growth and stability of the city of Port Arthur.”

James Beard, founder and CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network, however, testified that the pause only impacts a narrow set of permits and was necessary to evaluate the impacts of LNG exports.