Top US LNG Producer Cheniere Asks Biden Admin to Drop Pollution Rule

Cheniere Energy Inc. has asked the Biden administration to exempt it from limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants, arguing they would reduce shipments from the top U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas for an extended period and endanger the country's efforts to ramp up supplies to Europe, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

The request imposes an uncomfortable dilemma on President Joe Biden’s administration as it tries to balance efforts to slash pollution from the fossil fuel industry against promises to help European allies cut energy ties with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Denying Cheniere could reduce America’s LNG exports for months or years, while granting its request would mean ongoing emissions of toxic pollutants into poor and minority neighborhoods Biden has vowed to protect.