Congressman August Pfluger and Senator Tim Scott have criticized the Biden-Harris Administration for using a study by Robert Howarth to justify halting liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. They argue that the study, which claims LNG is worse for the climate than coal, is flawed.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has used every tool in their arsenal to attack American energy production, including relying on a flawed study to shut down LNG exports—endangering energy security for the U.S. and our allies,” said Congressman Pfluger. “President Biden and Vice President Harris must answer for their political targeting of the Permian Basin.”
Senator Scott added, “The two words the Biden-Harris Administration hates most are ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’—two things the American people deserve from their government. From the very beginning, it was clear that there was never any real basis for pausing LNG exports earlier this year; it was always about politics.”
In a letter addressed to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, lawmakers questioned how much influence the Howarth study had on the administration’s decision. They noted that Howarth's study was published before peer review and revised multiple times under pressure from climate activists.
The Breakthrough Institute reviewed Howarth's study in July 2024 and found significant errors in its assumptions, methodology, and conclusions. The institute pointed out incorrect data regarding natural gas sources, leakage rates, shipping distances, and an "incontrovertibly flawed methodology" for calculating climate impact.
The letter was signed by multiple lawmakers including Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Katie Britt, Senator Dan Sullivan, Rep. Dan Meuser, Rep. Pat Fallon, Rep. Russ Fulcher, Rep. Diana Harshbarger, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep. Judge Carter, Rep. Robert E. Latta, Rep. Randy Weber, Rep. Harriet M. Hageman, Rep. Wesley Hunt, Rep. Kay Granger, Rep. Ralph Norman among others.
Read the full letter here.
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