A group of 44 congressional Democrats on Monday sent a letter to the White House calling for the Biden administration to crack down on permitting liquified natural gas (LNG) projects, in the interest of combatting climate change and promoting “environmental justice.”
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) last year reversed Trump-era rules that barred the government from blocking projects based on their “indirect” climate impact, according to The Washington Post. [emphasis, links added]
The Democratic lawmakers in their letter called for the administration to scrutinize permits for LNG projects, arguing that current Trump-era rules failed to consider the emissions impact of methane gas and the harms that existing infrastructure caused to minority communities.
“We are concerned about the United States’ continued expansion of liquefied fossil gas (LNG) infrastructure and capacity, despite recent reports and analyses questioning the necessity of such development and the effect that this buildout will have on this country’s climate goals and frontline communities,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Our ability to combat the worst impacts of the climate crisis depends, to a significant degree, on whether the United States approves proposed LNG pipeline and export terminal projects on top of the already-substantial LNG infrastructure.”
The group also called for the CEQ to establish a “cross-agency team” from various federal agencies to consider the “combined climate and environmental justice” impacts of any future natural gas permits.
The lawmakers recommended including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of State, Department of Energy, and “other relevant agencies” for membership in this team.
The administration in January issued updated guidance on greenhouse gas regulation, obligating federal agencies to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions, incorporate social costs into cost-benefit analysis, and focus regulatory scrutiny on fossil fuel projects as opposed to green energy projects, according to a White House fact sheet.
The move also requires federal agencies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and establish “broad scale” analysis to increase the efficiency of future environmental reviews.
Read rest at Daily Caller
When Putin and Xi read about this they will be celebrating well into the night and laughing at the failing empire that is America.
Let’s see now. Someone is going to build a new industrial plant that is going to cover many acres. In a urban area? Hardly, the land would be much too expensive. So, someplace outside a built-up area.
Around the industry site land values are going to go down. Poorer people are going to buy and build on that land, if some ‘investor’ doesn’t buy the whole area and put up shacks for rental. One way or the other poorer people are going to move in on the industry.
“Environmental justice”? Should be to move those people from that area into homes in upscale communities, preferably democratic areas, where they will be welcomed.
(Please, don’t start a reply with “But… but… but…”)
Wouldn’t life be less complicated if coal had hired a good PR firm?Volkswagen, with Billion$ of Ottawa’s loonies, will build the largest EV battery factory on Earth outside of St. Thomas, Ontario, not far from the infamous ,abandoned psychiatric hospital. 1500 acres of farmland will no longer grow corn for the local (Green?) ethanol plant. The people living around the perimeter of the site have lost out big-time. Kinda like the poor slobs who live in the shadow of wind turbines, but get none of lucrative royalties. The sellers attitude? “We’re outta here”
I wasn’t familiar with the St. Thomas hospital. There’s a couple of YouTube videos on the old hospital. Looked at the beginning of one. Ugly looking place. Apparently the RCAF did used the building during WW2.
Twenty years from now will someone make a record of the abandoned VW battery factory – if it actually gets built?
Forty four Liberal Democrats/Traitors/Globalists urge Biden to further weaken America Forty four who should all be voted out of America Period