President Biden has halted the permitting process of several proposed liquefied natural gas projects, and he cited environmental concerns as his motivation.
Environmentalists cheered the decision, while energy officials viewed it as a win for Russia and a loss for American allies and jobs.
Demand for U.S. natural gas exports has spiked in the European and Asian markets since war erupted in Ukraine, and U.S. officials are asking for time to study and evaluate the potential impact of future natural gas production.
President Biden said the pause in energy permitting was necessary because climate change is “the existential threat of our time.” The review is expected to take several months.