President Biden’s LNG ban has now impacted Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukraine had secured a significant LNG deal with Virginia-based Venture Global, which operates several facilities in Louisiana.
The agreement with Venture Global’s Plaquemines facility would enable Ukraine to purchase up to two million metric tons of gas annually, providing power for the country and generating substantial revenue for the American economy. The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted the global threat posed by this ban and its significance to Ukraine.
The entire agreement is now at risk due to President Biden’s LNG permitting “pause,” which halted all new LNG export permits to countries without a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, including Ukraine.
In March, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill led a coalition of 16 states in a lawsuit against the President and the United States Department of Energy over this decision. The suit aims to resume supplying power needs globally, which might otherwise be met by Russia, the Middle East, or China.
General Murrill stated that "Joe Biden’s assault on American energy threatens Louisiana and democracy itself worldwide. It creates international instability and hurts developing democracies like Ukraine. Joe Biden has repeatedly stated that he stands with Ukraine, but this LNG ban directly contradicts his empty statements. He has emboldened Russia in its quest to defeat Ukraine. This ban has been unlawful since the beginning, and now we’re seeing the direct result of these disastrous environmental policies."
Last week, the Louisiana Department of Justice presented their case to lift the LNG export ban immediately before U.S. District Court Judge James Cain. The State of Louisiana is joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming in this legal action.