LNG exports: America’s hidden ‘climate bomb’

In less than a decade, America has become the world’s biggest exporter of liquified natural gas. 

In the mid-2000s, the US was building terminals to import more fossil gas. But that all changed after the fracking boom unlocked vast reserves of hydrocarbons. 

The US became a net exporter in 2017. Then, Russia’s war on Ukraine forced a scramble for new supplies of gas in Europe – and American companies stepped in.

The consequence: a historic push for new terminals, a vast new source of heat-trapping gasses that could wipe out US climate gains, and a growing conflict over how the government approves new LNG infrastructure.

This week: we explore the latest climate flash point: liquified gas.

We’re joined by Bill McKibben, author, organizer and founder of Third Act; Nicole Pollack, a contributing writer at Canary Media; and Jeremy Symons, analyst, political strategist, and principal at Symons Public Affairs.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Canary Media: Nicole Pollack’s deep dive into the controversies over FERC approval of LNG exports.

New Yorker: Bill McKibben’s article on Robert Howarth’s latest research on LNG emissions.

Jeremy Symons’ recent research on how LNG exports are causing US emissions to rise.

Sign up for Latitude Media’s Frontier Forum on January 31, featuring Crux CEO Alfred Johnson, who will break down the budding market for clean energy tax credits. We’ll dissect current transactions and pricing, compare buyer and seller expectations, and look at where the market is headed in 2024.

It’s Canary Media’s listener drive through the end of the year. Make a tax-deductible donation today.

The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.