This resolution supports natural gas as an affordable, "green" energy source, advocating for increased domestic production, infrastructure development, and expedited approval of liquified natural gas export facilities to bolster U.S. energy independence and supply allies.
Troy Balderson
Representative
OH-12
This resolution supports the use of natural gas as an affordable and "green" energy source, emphasizing its economic and environmental benefits. It opposes methane emission fees that could raise costs for Americans and harm natural gas producing regions. The resolution also advocates for increased domestic natural gas production, infrastructure, and exports, highlighting the role of U.S. natural gas in reducing global emissions and supporting energy security.
New Resolution Pushes Natural Gas as 'Green' Energy, Challenges Methane Emission Fee
This resolution is basically a big thumbs-up for natural gas, calling it "green" and affordable, while giving a thumbs-down to a recent fee on methane emissions (that's part of Public Law 117-169). It claims the fee will hike up costs for regular folks, farmers, and small businesses, and hit natural gas-producing areas hard.
Playing the 'Green' Card
The resolution paints natural gas as an environmental hero, saying it's helped cut greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector since 2005. It even points out that U.S. methane emissions dropped 10% between 2005 and 2020, while natural gas production increased. The bill also highlights that natural gas is "cleaner" than other fossil fuels, emitting fewer air pollutants.
- Real-World Impact: For a family using natural gas for heating and cooking, this could mean avoiding potential price increases linked to the methane fee. However, it doesn't address the broader environmental concerns about methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Europe's Energy Crunch
The resolution stresses how important U.S. natural gas is for Europe, especially since they're trying to ditch Russian gas. It mentions the U.S. commitment to send more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe – 15,000,000,000 cubic meters by the end of 2022, and potentially up to 147,000,000,000 cubic meters in 2023. It also throws shade at President Biden's ban on approving LNG export permits to certain countries.
- Real-World Impact: This could mean more jobs in the U.S. natural gas industry, but it also raises questions about whether we're prioritizing exports over our own energy needs and climate goals.
More Gas, More Infrastructure
The resolution calls for boosting domestic natural gas production and building more infrastructure, like pipelines and LNG export facilities. It claims the U.S. has enough natural gas to last almost a century and that increasing its use will make us less dependent on foreign energy. It also projects a 57% increase in global natural gas demand by 2050, requiring 240,000,000,000 cubic meters per year of additional LNG export capacity.
- Real-World Impact: If you're a worker in the natural gas sector, this could mean more job security. But for communities near new pipelines or export facilities, it could mean dealing with construction and potential environmental impacts. It also locks the United States and potentially other countries into decades of further reliance on a fossil fuel, which could have serious long-term climate consequences.
##The Bottom Line
This resolution is all about promoting natural gas as a key part of the U.S. energy strategy, both at home and abroad. It downplays environmental concerns and pushes back against regulations, like the methane fee, that could hinder the industry's growth. It's a clear signal that some lawmakers want to double down on natural gas, despite the ongoing debate about its role in a clean energy future.