President Joe Biden’s pause on liquefied natural gas exports to non-free trade agreement countries is now paused itself after a federal judge ordered a halt to the White House’s policy.
Federal Judge James David Cain, Jr., sided with Louisiana and 15 other states in his ruling on Monday, agreeing with the plaintiffs that the moratorium is arbitrary. As such, Cain issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Biden Administration from implementing the order.
In his decision, Cain said the Biden administration failed to consider the policy’s impact on the states’ economies and tax revenues. Several of the plaintiff states, including Louisiana, introduced evidence of such lost revenues during the trial.
Cain was appointed to federal bench by former President Donald Trump.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement Monday celebrating the decision.
"This is great news for Louisiana, our 16 state partners in this fight, and the entire country,” Murrill said. “As Judge Cain mentioned in his ruling, there is roughly $61 billion dollars of pending infrastructure at risk to our state from this illegal pause. LNG has an enormous and positive impact on Louisiana, supplying clean energy for the entire world, and providing good jobs here at home. The people of Louisiana are proud to power this nation and the world. A major victory for American energy.”
Environmental groups support the Biden Administration’s policy because, they say, LNG exports will irreparably harm the climate.
