Biden Administration Approves Controversial Oil Project as Nation’s Fossil Fuel Exports Soar
The Biden Administration has recently approved the Willow Project, a large-scale oil-drilling complex located in Alaska. This decision has drawn opposition from millions of people, with over five million signing petitions against the project, and a million sending letters of protest to the White House. The approval of the Willow Project has sparked controversy and could potentially become a key factor in the upcoming presidential race.
However, the Willow field is not the only significant fossil fuel project in the works. Another project that has been proposed is the Calcasieu Pass 2 (C.P.2), an enormous liquefied natural gas (L.N.G.) export terminal in Louisiana. This project, along with many other L.N.G. terminals, aims to export gas mainly from the Permian Basin to overseas customers. C.P.2 has become a poster child for late-stage petrocapitalism, as it would further solidify the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, exceeding what scientific experts have identified as the breaking point for the climate system. In fact, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Calcasieu Pass 2 project would be twenty times larger than those from the oil drilling in Willow.
Situated strategically on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Louisiana, the proposed C.P.2 terminal would allow for the export of twenty million metric tons of L.N.G. annually. With seven existing terminals in that region, the United States has already become the world’s largest exporter of L.N.G., surpassing Russia and Qatar. This rapid increase in L.N.G. exports is a significant shift, considering that U.S. oil and gas exports were virtually non-existent before 2016, when the ban on selling American oil abroad was lifted.
While President Biden has pledged to cut U.S. emissions in half from 2005 levels by 2030, his administration has overseen the continued expansion of fossil fuel exports. Although the emissions from these exports are not accounted for in the country’s total emissions, they contribute to global emissions and the climate crisis. The rules that separate domestic and foreign emissions constitute a flawed approach, as the atmosphere does not differentiate between the two. Consequently, the United States risks undermining its climate action efforts by focusing solely on domestic emissions while ignoring the impact of its increasing fossil fuel exports.
To address the climate crisis effectively, the world needs to aim for net zero emissions. This necessitates a shift away from investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure, including L.N.G. export terminals, and focusing on renewable energy alternatives. By exporting clean energy technologies like solar farms and wind turbines, the United States can make a more substantial contribution to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Texas, for example, was able to maintain its power grid during a recent heatwave due to its extensive solar power and battery capacity.
It is crucial for the Biden Administration to reassess its position on fossil fuel exports and prioritize renewable energy investments. While some argue that exporting natural gas can help replace coal in developing economies, the emphasis should be on transitioning to cleaner sources of energy rather than perpetuating reliance on fossil fuels. By embracing a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach, the United States can lead the way in combating climate change and preserving the planet for future generations.
