Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Wednesday slammed the climate agenda of President Joe Biden's administration as "bad for America" after it delayed approval for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
His speech on the Senate floor came after the administration directed the Department of Energy to withhold approval of the proposed Calcasieu Pass 2, which would be the largest natural gas export terminal in America, in order to evaluate its climate, economic, and national security impacts. The review, which could also determine the fate of 16 other proposed projects of the same nature, may extend past the November elections, according to the New York Times.
"And now, further limits to [liquefied natural gas] exports will only send energy costs higher at a time when the West is trying to reduce its reliance on Russian energy," McConnell said in the speech. "It's directly at odds with America's interests on the world stage."
"This agenda is not just bad for America at home," McConnell said. "It's directly at odd's with America's interests on the world stage."
He went on to warn that Russia and Iran are increasing their natural gas exports and that American natural gas "allowed Europe to reduce its reliance on Russian energy in the wake of their attack on Ukraine."
The Times reported that the White House does not see the proposed projects as being urgent given that the United States' natural gas exports lead the world and that its capacity will likely double by 2028. Still, it noted that industry leaders have warned that Russia's Vladimir Putin could use his country's exports of LNG to his advantage and would benefit from the United States limiting its own exports.
McConnell's speech comes a day after the Washington Free Beacon reported on the warnings of chemical manufacturers that EPA bans on a chemical used in the manufacture of military equipment could result in that equipment being made with resources from China.