The decision could delay the approval of nearly a dozen proposed gas export projects past the November election. That could help [President Biden](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/joe-biden-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4) court young voters who consider such facilities to be “climate bombs,” and who were angered by the administration’s approval of a massive drilling project in Alaska. But it risks antagonizing other interests, including foreign allies and fossil fuel companies.
Many liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facilities are in communities of color on the Gulf Coast and other parts of the country. Biden said in a statement that the climate review came in response to pleas from young activists and members of these communities.
“While MAGA Republicans willfully deny the urgency of the climate crisis, condemning the American people to a dangerous future, my Administration will not be complacent,” he said. “We will not cede to special interests. We will heed the calls of young people and frontline communities who are using their voices to demand action from those with the power to act.”
The decision represents the latest difficult choice Biden has faced over high-profile parts of his agenda. During early deliberations, it sparked a heated internal debate within the administration over national security concerns, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
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White House officials have instructed the Energy Department to study the climate change impact of [liquefied natural gas export terminals](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/10/17/natural-gas-exports-climate-activists/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2) before approving the fossil fuel facilities, the Biden administration announced Friday.
The decision could delay the approval of nearly a dozen proposed gas export projects past the November election. That could help [President Biden](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/joe-biden-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4) court young voters who consider such facilities to be “climate bombs,” and who were angered by the administration’s approval of a massive drilling project in Alaska. But it risks antagonizing other interests, including foreign allies and fossil fuel companies.
Many liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facilities are in communities of color on the Gulf Coast and other parts of the country. Biden said in a statement that the climate review came in response to pleas from young activists and members of these communities.
“While MAGA Republicans willfully deny the urgency of the climate crisis, condemning the American people to a dangerous future, my Administration will not be complacent,” he said. “We will not cede to special interests. We will heed the calls of young people and frontline communities who are using their voices to demand action from those with the power to act.”
The decision represents the latest difficult choice Biden has faced over high-profile parts of his agenda. During early deliberations, it sparked a heated internal debate within the administration over national security concerns, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
Biden’s top climate aides, including White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi and clean energy senior adviser John Podesta, advocated for considering the climate consequences of gas exports, the two people said. But early on, top national security officials, including senior energy adviser [Amos Hochstein](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/06/17/amos-hochstein-biden-energy-gas/?itid=lk_inline_manual_8&itid=lk_inline_manual_10) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, voiced concerns about curtailing gas exports to European allies in the event of another geopolitical conflict such as [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-russia/?itid=lk_inline_manual_10).
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