Federal Action Will Not Affect Calpine’s New Project in Freestone County, Texas
“It does not impact our project at all,” Brett Kerr Vice President, External Affairs – Calpine responded when The ‘Times’ reached out to him about President Biden’s announcement that they will freeze all natural gas projects, citing climate change crisis and recent catastrophic events.
Rueters reported on January 26, 2024, that President Biden put a temporary hold on pending and upcoming requests to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from new projects. During that time, they will look at the impacts of LNG on America’s energy and environment This could remain in effect until after the General Election on November 5th.
Of immediate concern was what impact it would have to Calpine’s new gas-fired power plant being developed in Freestone County, beside its existing plant, as reported in The ‘Times’ on December 20th edition. They are happy to report there will be no impact.
In introducing this action, President Biden stated, “From Day One, my Administration has set the United States on an unprecedented course to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad – securing the largest climate investment in the history of the world. This pause on new LNG approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.”
However, the announcement has created an outcry of opposition.
Former President and presidential candidate, Donald Trump’s Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued this statement, “Joe Biden has once again caved to the radical demands of the environment extremists in his administration. This decision to lock the approval of new facilities to export American natural gas is one more disastrous self-inflicted wound that will further undermine America’s economic and natural security. On day one President, Trump will unleash American energy to lower the cost of living for all Americans, pay down debt, strengthen national security, and establish the United States as the manufacturing superpower of the world.”
Speaker Mike Johnson responded, “President Biden’s decision to place a pause on pending natural gas export terminals is outrageous. By bending the knee to climate activists, the President is empowering Russia, weakening U.S. energy security, and forcing Europe’s reliance on dirty Russian exports. An object failure.”
Closer to home, Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner, weighed in, “Texas natural gas is saving the free world, and President Biden wants to end it. His pause on LNG plants may recklessly endanger European lives, many of whom are facing a harsh winter with less access to life-saving energy… 20% of our LNG exports are going to Europe (because of this). But this new pause could put European citizens back in…the cold.”
U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led 25 Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm blasting the Biden Administration for this measure.
Cruz also stated, “This announcement is another blatant attack in the Biden administration’s day 1 campaign against America’s oil and gas industry and the American workers who sustain it…This move is environmentally damaging because U.S. liquefied natural gas displaces dirtier foreign options and is guaranteed to undermine European energy security and increase dependency on Russia.”
(Last year, Cruz introduced the Natural Gas Export Act to expedite the federal approval process for LNG. He also successfully negotiated with the administration to approve LNG licenses. He continues to work for American energy and jobs.)
It remains to be seen what impact pausing LNG exports will have on the economy, the nation, and the world.
Mary McDonald, Freelance Reporter
