U.S. LNG Exports are the Key to Global Energy Security

Expanding LNG exports will allow the U.S. to use its energy abundance as a force for good in the world.

Permitting Reform can Unlock our Natural Gas Resources

With permitting reform, we can resume building the energy projects we need to meet rising energy demands in the U.S. and around the world. Increasing U.S. liquid natural gas exports to replace foreign coal can get the world back on track to further reducing our global emissions and providing energy security—all while delivering cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy for all.

PAGE Energy Policy Priorities in the First 100 Days

The Trump Administration and Congress have an opportunity to increase LNG exports, pass permitting reform and address methane emissions

The results of the 2024 U.S. elections demonstrate that support for natural gas production was a winning issue. A large majority of voters support a steady energy transition using all available options, including natural gas. Ultimately, elected officials of both parties who expressed alignment with these energy priorities were rewarded by voters. Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the start of the 119th Congress, lawmakers have an opportunity to expand affordable and reliable natural gas’ role as an energy security and climate solution.  

The Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) looks forward to working with the new Administration and Congress on critical energy and climate issues. This includes increasing liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, addressing methane emissions and passing meaningful permitting reform.

Increasing LNG Exports

The U.S. has emerged as a leading exporter of LNG, driven by technological advancement and a global shift towards cleaner energy sources. The positive climate impact of U.S. LNG has been tremendous, with a recent study by ICF International confirming that U.S. LNG exports produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal in 2022.

Quote from Chris Treanor, Executive Director of PAGE: “This study underscores the fact that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal and must remain a solution to achieving our climate and energy security goals."

However, the Biden Administration temporarily paused approvals of new LNG exports in January 2024 while they studied whether exports are in the public interest. This left our international partners questioning the U.S.’s commitment to delivering energy security to protect them from Russian aggression, which is in direct conflict with our push for foreign aid to support our allies’ sovereignty. While the flawed study still needs to be finalized, the Trump Administration has thankfully reversed the pause and provided certainty to our allies that they’ll have access to a more secure and affordable energy supply that helps reduce global emissions and builds a stronger domestic economy. The Trump Administration and Congress can build on this progress by continuing to prioritize LNG exports as part of a broader energy security and decarbonization strategy.

Passing Permitting Reform

Yet, we cannot meet the growing energy demand without permitting reform. Our nation’s energy infrastructure is at capacity, and significant infrastructure investments are needed to unleash all energy resources, including natural gas and renewables. Natural gas demand has grown 43% since 2013, while infrastructure to deliver it has only increased 25%, and storage delivery capacity has only grown 2%. This trend has resulted in higher prices and reliability challenges, even though abundant and affordable supplies remain available.

The current permitting process for energy projects is lengthy and complex, often involving multiple federal and state agencies and taking up to a decade to complete. Streamlining this process is essential to expediting project approvals and reducing bureaucratic delays.

Previous legislative efforts have aimed to simplify the permitting process without compromising environmental standards. However, they have not resulted in the scale of progression needed to achieve our goals. PAGE calls on the new Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reform that includes targeted improvements to the Natural Gas Act and integration of state reviews into the existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process. This will untangle bureaucratic bottlenecks preventing American energy from reaching consumers. 

Reducing Methane Emissions

While natural gas is itself a clean-burning energy resource, it is important that the supply chain delivering that resource is operated in a way that also limits methane emissions. To achieve our shared goals, we need to reduce these potent emissions and the energy sector has the largest potential for a rapid reduction.

The good news is that U.S. oil and gas methane emissions are on the decline. PAGE and others in the natural gas industry have taken extraordinary measures to reduce methane emissions by implementing operational changes and expanding the use of innovative technologies – making U.S. LNG one of the lowest-intensity natural gas sources in the world. Exporting more U.S. natural gas abroad is an important next step to reduce emissions globally, especially in countries like China, whose coal dependency is responsible for 15% of the world’s methane emissions.

We encourage reasonable methane recommendations from policymakers to improve emissions measurement by investing in advanced detection, monitoring and measurement technologies and practices to continue contributing to global emissions reduction goals which will keep U.S. LNG competitive on a global scale. In early 2024, the EU adopted stringent methane regulations for all oil, gas and coal imports, creating an economic opportunity for energy producing nations who comply with these standards. By fostering efforts that help U.S. LNG meet Europe’s regulations, the Trump Administration can unlock the economic benefits and jobs associated with producing and shipping LNG, while bolstering energy security here and abroad.  

The Bottom Line

Voters have made clear that they favor energy policies that prioritize affordability and reliability, and the new Administration and Congress have an opportunity to address these issues as they begin their terms this month. PAGE is eager to engage with policymakers on solutions to increase U.S. natural gas production, make our energies cleaner, and pass legislation that speeds up the permitting process. By embracing innovation and collaboration, the U.S. can continue to play a pivotal energy leadership role, delivering responsible LNG to global markets.

Insights from Climate Week NYC: U.S. Natural Gas is the Ideal Energy Source of the World

U.S. natural gas can help us achieve our global climate goals and provide energy security for our allies

For years, Climate Week NYC has provided policymakers, government officials, and industry leaders with a platform to discuss effective solutions to decarbonize global emissions. Among over 100,000 estimated participants at Climate Week, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) was at the forefront of these conversations, emphasizing the bipartisan and international consensus that natural gas plays a key role in the energy transition as a reliable low-carbon energy source.

The consensus coming out of Climate Week is clear – natural gas is essential to achieving the dual goals of energy security and reducing global emissions, by decreasing dependence on global coal and dirtier energy from Russia. One of the most effective ways to lower power sector and industrial emissions is to switch from coal to natural gas, especially in regions heavily reliant on coal. We've seen the results of this approach firsthand in the U.S, where 65% of the country’s power sector emissions reductions from 2005-2019 were achieved through coal-to-gas switching.

“It’s Never Been a More Important Time to Produce Energy”

PAGE kicked off Climate Week by sponsoring an Axios event, “A Conversation on Global Deployment of Energy Alternatives to Coal.” During the “View from the Top” discussion, Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO of EQT, emphasized how replacing foreign coal with U.S. natural gas is the best way to continue reducing worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but that there are barriers to delivering affordable and reliable energy for consumers. Among these challenges include a lack of natural gas infrastructure and the Department of Energy’s pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) export approvals, preventing the U.S. from delivering sufficient natural gas supplies to our allies overseas. His remarks echoed earlier points raised by Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, who noted “it’s increasingly hard to get natural gas infrastructure built in the United States," due to a number of roadblocks.

The conversation about the benefits of U.S. natural gas continued throughout Climate Week and culminated in the presentation of a new independent report released by the Center on Regulation in Europe – “Securing Europe’s Net Zero Path and Flexible LNG.” The study confirmed the key role of LNG as a transitional fuel that can ensure Europe’s energy security and achieve the EU’s ambitious climate goals. Notable speakers during the presentation included Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources, and PAGE member Naomi Boness, Managing Director, Stanford Natural Gas and Stanford Hydrogen Initiatives, who highlighted the importance of cooperation among allies to ensure a reliable energy supply during times of heightened geopolitical instability.

In Europe, the absence of stable energy supplies has contributed to a volatile energy market, with electricity prices now 2-3 times higher than those in the U.S. according to the recent Draghi Report. As a consequence, several EU states are reopening once dormant coal plants to reduce energy costs. While there may be short-term economic benefits, this rise in coal-fired power generation can have disastrous climate impacts and not provide longer-term stability to energy markets in Europe and the rest of the world. In fact, if just 5% of the worst emitting coal-power plants switched to natural gas, global power sector emissions would be reduced by 30%. This would increase to nearly 50% if that switch incorporated carbon capture and storage.

From left to right: Geoffrey Pyatt, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Toby Z. Rice

We Must Address the Elephant in the Room – Methane

Another important part of PAGE’s message at Climate Week focused on the need to address the elephant in the room – methane. The U.S. natural gas industry understands the critical role it must play in in reducing methane emissions and PAGE members have already taken significant steps to eliminate methane through investment and innovation. These efforts have helped establish U.S. natural gas as among the cleanest in the world.

As a result, U.S. methane emissions decreased by 23% from 2020 - 2022, with only an additional 7% decline needed by 2030 to meet the global methane pledge. By further reducing methane emissions across the natural gas value chain, we can continue to secure our allies’ energy in the cleanest way possible. Several House Democrats recently acknowledged this in a letter to President Biden, affirming that “American LNG is produced with some of the strongest environmental protections globally.”

The Bottom Line

As we navigate the complexities of the energy transition, U.S. natural gas stands alone as the most viable solution to reduce global GHG emissions and secure energy supplies. At Climate Week, this consensus was apparent among conversations with policymakers and industry experts, reflecting the pragmatic dialogue last year at COP28 that recognized natural gas as having a key role to play in meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

As we look towards the future, we need to capitalize on the opportunity we have before us. The U.S. has a responsibility to lead this movement towards a cleaner, more secure energy future with our abundant supply of natural gas.

Securing Europe’s Net Zero Path with Flexible LNG

The European think tank Center on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) released an independent report, with key contributions from the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE), which underscores the critical role that flexible U.S. LNG plays in Europe’s energy security and decarbonization pathway.

Top findings of the CERRE report include:

Access the executive summary and full summary here.

New poll finds that nearly 70% of voters support increasing natural gas production

There is a broad consensus that voters want natural gas to be part of a steady transition to clean energy 

Among a number of pressing issues, this November American voters will decide on the direction of energy and climate policy for years to come. Over the past three plus years, the Biden Administration and Congress have pursued a climate agenda that prioritized reducing emissions. Yet Democratic policymakers have shied away from publicly supporting the primary driver behind U.S. emissions reductions – natural gas – for fear of alienating voters. 

The reality is voters across party lines overwhelmingly want natural gas to play a role in the energy transition. That’s what a new nationwide poll conducted by Democratic polling firm Impact Research and commissioned by the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) found. Ahead of the upcoming election, climate-minded candidates would be wise to consider where voters stand on natural gas as an energy and climate solution. 

The poll found that voters are increasingly pragmatic about the energy transition, as 76% of voters and 80% of Democrats want the country to steadily transition to clean energy by using all options currently available to keep energy affordable and reliable. The appeal of this approach is growing rapidly, with support for a steady transition climbing 11 percentage points today compared to 2022. 

But what do Americans mean by a “steady” transition? The poll overwhelmingly shows that voters want the steady transition to feature natural gas.

Nearly 70% of voters are in favor of increasing natural gas production, including majorities of Democrats (59%) and Independents (63%).

Moderate Democratic support for increased production has progressed the most, with net support growing 10 percentage points since 2022. Natural gas, only slightly behind renewables, such as solar (84%) and wind energy (78%), is the top energy source voters want to see used more, with 67% in favor of increased usage.  

Widespread support for natural gas also extends to exporting the fuel to our allies. More than half of all voters (58%) and Democrats (63%) say it’s important to support our allies by providing reliable energy exports of natural gas. In the same vein, there is net support (+12 overall / +13 Democrats) for increasing the exportation of American-produced natural gas to allied nations. 

This support for natural gas is driven by reliability and affordability being top of mind for voters. Reducing energy costs is a top priority for a majority of voters across party lines, including 62% of moderate Democrats and 58% of Independents. Additionally, nearly 60% of voters believe that strengthening U.S. energy independence is vital for energy policy.

The results are clear: Democrats must be willing to meet voters where they are on climate solutions, which include natural gas. Recent history suggests that failing to balance emissions with affordability and reliability hurts Democrats at the polls. For example, Democrats suffered historic election losses following the unsuccessful cap-and-trade bill of 2010. It was nearly a decade following those votes before a majority of voters supported ambitious climate legislation. 

By aligning with the majority of voters and advocating for reliable, affordable, and clean energy, our leaders can better position themselves to drive a successful long-term energy transition that reduces emissions, creates jobs, and strengthens the economy. 

Pausing Global Coal-to-Natural Gas Conversions Will Substantially Slow Pace of Emissions Reductions

It is imperative that the Energy Department reverse course and allow natural gas to continue as a driver of cleaner, more secure energy worldwide.

With global CO2 emissions rising, President Biden has rightfully adopted firm climate commitments through landmark legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act and notable executive actions on methane emissions. 

However, the Department of Energy's (DOE) recent decision to pause pending approvals of liquified natural gas (LNG) exports is contrary to this pattern of firm climate policy. Pausing U.S. LNG exports will force nations worldwide to turn to dirtier, less reliable forms of energy, such as coal, making it increasingly difficult to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.   

The administration says the pause is to study natural gas's climate impacts, but gas has already proven to be a climate solution. Delaying our exports will force our allies to look elsewhere to meet their energy needs, which is why the administration must reverse course and allow natural gas to continue to be the driver of cleaner, more secure energy on a global scale. 

New research from the International Energy Agency shows coal-to-gas switching was the most significant driver behind U.S. energy sector emissions reductions in 2023.

U.S. natural gas is the cleanest, most reliable baseload energy source  

The U.S. has provided a model showing that phasing out dirty coal-fired power plants and replacing them with low-carbon natural gas is a pivotal part of the global energy transition. 

New research from the International Energy Agency shows coal-to-gas switching was the most significant driver behind U.S. energy sector emissions reductions in 2023. Coal-to-gas switching has also helped the U.S. reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% over the last two decades.  

The natural gas industry is also making rapid progress in reducing methane emissions, cementing natural gas's role in the energy transition. The sector is proving it's taking methane seriously, leading to a 23% reduction in U.S. energy industry methane emissions from 2020 through 2022. Only an additional 7% decline is needed by 2030 to meet the global methane pledge. 

This methane progress is only growing natural gas's positive climate impact. It builds on the DOE's 2019 study, which concluded that the life cycle emissions of U.S. LNG exports to Europe and Asia are lower than those of regional coal and Russian gas. 

The natural gas export pause will harm allies 

Despite the clear environmental benefits of increasingly low-carbon natural gas, Biden’s pause on LNG exports makes it exceedingly difficult to achieve our global climate goals. 

Without a reliable energy supply, our allies could once again become dependent on dirtier, less secure, and less reliable energy from undemocratic countries like Russia, Iran, and Qatar. This situation has already proven true with a resurgence in global coal use, with Germany and other EU members activating once-dormant coal plants to ensure stable energy supplies.  

Without natural gas, we cannot facilitate the clean energy transition 

Another key ramification of the pause is that it will significantly impact the developing world's decarbonization ability. According to McKinsey & Company, combating climate change is likely only possible if developing countries achieve clean, low-carbon economies. These changes can also help generate increased capital and economic opportunities in these regions.

To help facilitate a just and global clean energy transition, the Biden Administration has invested over $200 million to expand access to renewable energy in Africa. While these efforts are laudable, renewables alone cannot generate the baseload of energy the countries need. Furthermore, developing countries need approximately $1.7 trillion annually worth of renewable energy investments, making natural gas a far more financially feasible option. 

The science is clear—U.S. natural gas is a crucial emissions reduction driver and is critical to achieving the world's climate goals.

These shortcomings have been notable in countries like China, where declining hydropower production due to droughts has brought about a resurgence in coal use, thereby diminishing other progress on renewables. Today, China emits the most energy-related CO2 emissions globally and could remain in that position through 2050 as it doubles down on coal. 

The good news is that natural gas is the ideal complement to renewables to facilitate the energy transition. Together, their energy outputs ensure stable production flows while providing both developed and developing countries access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. 

The bottom line

The science is clear—U.S. natural gas is a crucial emissions reduction driver and is critical to achieving the world's climate goals. However, the Biden Administration has implemented an energy policy that will counter the very goals it has committed to achieving. 

By expanding natural gas production and sending it to coal-reliant regions, we can export a proven climate solution to the world. 

Comparative GHG Footprint Analysis for European and Asian Supplies of USLNG, Pipeline Gas, and Coal

The BRG Energy & Climate practice (BRG E&C) has undertaken an independent life cycle analysis (LCA) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of US liquefied natural gas (USLNG) and competing fossil fuels used for power generation in 13 destination markets.

Read the Full Report

Irrational energy policy puts U.S. national security in jeopardy

By reducing the availability of U.S. LNG, our allies will become dependent on less secure, dirtier energy from undemocratic countries.

Amid outbreaks of violence in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, President Biden is rightfully urging foreign aid to secure the sovereignty of our allies and, by extension, the safety of the American people. This commitment to international stability is laudable. 

However, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent decision to pause pending approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities is in direct conflict with this goal, possibly leaving our allies reliant on authoritarian regimes for energy. In this way, energy policy is foreign policy, and the U.S. is contradicting itself and ceding American leadership by empowering the same adversaries it is trying to push back on.

The impacts of the pause are profound, as two-thirds of the world's economically recoverable gas is in just four countries: Russia, Iran, Qatar, and the U.S. 

Just days after the pause, Qatar announced it would expand its LNG production. Now, market experts predict that the country could control a nearly 25% share of the global market and squeeze out projects from the U.S. Consequently, our allies could become dependent on dirtier, less secure, and less reliable energy from undemocratic countries.

This pause is anything but rational – it is not based on science, it compromises our national security, and it puts our allies at the mercy of authoritarian powers. 

Seemingly overnight, we have damaged our global reputation by allowing our adversaries to gain the upper hand. The Biden administration must recognize the repercussions of this misguided policy and change course before it’s too late. 

Not only does this risk destabilizing Europe’s highly volatile energy market, but it fundamentally damages our reputation as a reliable, consistent energy partner abroad.

Europe's energy security is on the line

Europe’s energy crisis over the last two years shows what happens when our allies depend on tyrants like Vladimir Putin to meet their energy needs. Following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. supplied the EU with 40% of its LNG imports after Putin cut off gas supplies to the continent. 

While many Democrats initially supported this policy, support has declined recently under the assumption that Europe no longer needs our help, and that current U.S. production is overshooting waning demand. 

However, the job of securing Europe’s energy is unfinished, as 20% of Europe’s gas still comes from Russia and Qatar. 

Meanwhile, European energy ministers are renewing measures to keep natural gas demand 15% below pre-invasion levels. If Europe’s LNG demand increases due to environmental factors, such as a return to average winter temperatures, this policy will create severe geopolitical risks. European countries may even have to divert economic resources from supporting Ukraine to make up for higher energy prices. 

Not only does this risk destabilizing Europe’s highly volatile energy market, but it fundamentally damages our reputation as a reliable, consistent energy partner abroad. Consequently, we risk once again conceding Europe’s energy supplies to Putin, allowing him to continue to fund his war in Ukraine. 

China has impeded the Philippines' efforts to explore potential gas fields in the West Philippine Sea. This situation may force the Philippine government to negotiate with Xi Jinping instead of working with the U.S. to compensate for the energy deficit.

The U.S. is the global guarantor of energy security

The Biden administration’s pause on LNG exports will affect our allies in Europe and ripple across the rest of the world. EU officials have recognized that the U.S. is the “global guarantor of energy security” and have underscored that its responsibility goes beyond Europe.

In Japan, the world’s second-largest purchaser of LNG, the government expects the pause to delay the start of new LNG production from the U.S. and ultimately compromise the country’s energy security. 

The pause has also put the Philippines on the verge of an energy crisis. The country is already anticipating declines in its local gas fields, which supply a significant portion of its fuel.

China has impeded the Philippines' efforts to explore potential gas fields in the West Philippine Sea. This situation may force the Philippine government to negotiate with Xi Jinping instead of working with the U.S. to compensate for the energy deficit. 

Ultimately, U.S. LNG exports solve our Asian allies’ energy security challenges. While some members of Congress believe that U.S. gas provides adversaries like China with an affordable energy supply, the reality is that China’s energy consumption and industrial growth are inevitable. 

It is also far more advantageous for China to rely on American energy than for our allies to depend on Beijing to keep their lights on with carbon-intensive Chinese coal. 

We need energy policies that protect our national security

The Biden administration has left our allies stranded. They disregarded foreign policy experts and wielded U.S. energy policy to appeal to a vocal minority. 

Our reputation is on the line, and the American people deserve better. That is why the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) is maintaining its course in fighting for responsible energy policies that support our allies and protect national security.  

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