OPINION:
Energy security isn’t just about keeping the lights on; it’s about preserving America’s sovereignty and strength on the world stage. The United States’ emergence as the world’s leading liquefied natural gas exporter isn’t merely an economic milestone; it’s a strategic triumph that fortifies our national security and reshapes global alliances.
The Trump administration has wasted no time unleashing America’s energy potential. The U.S. Energy Department authorized Venture Global to export LNG from their CP2 facility, a $28 billion project currently under construction. The next step in the process will require a “notice to proceed” from FERC, which is critical to moving the project full speed ahead and eventually delivering reliable energy to European countries, including Germany.
CP2 marked the fifth export approval issued by Department of Energy, including Golden Pass LNG and Delfin LNG. Earlier this month, President Trump’s Energy Dominance Council witnessed Venture Global’s groundbreaking $18 billion planned expansion of its Plaquemines export facility, a powerhouse that will create American jobs and deliver U.S. LNG directly to our allies across Europe and Asia starved for reliable alternatives to hostile suppliers.
This decisive action stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s misguided freeze on new LNG export permits. President Biden’s Energy Department clung to the flawed premise that LNG exports would inflate domestic prices, even commissioning a politically timed study released after burying their 2023 study on LNG exports. This approach prioritized short-term political calculations over America’s long-term strategic interests.
The reality is more straightforward: Expanding LNG exports creates robust markets for American producers, driving innovation and investment across the entire energy sector. As the industry scales up to meet growing global demand, domestic supplies remain plentiful and prices stable.
The evidence speaks for itself. A comprehensive 2024 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies demolishes the argument that LNG exports harm American consumers.
Their conclusion is unequivocal: “robust supply growth has offset the upward price risk, and continued strength in domestic natural gas production would continue to deliver globally competitive prices for domestic consumers.”
America possesses the extraordinary capability to fuel our allies’ energy needs while maintaining affordable domestic prices. This dual achievement delivers profound national security benefits that extend far beyond mere economics.
Accelerating natural gas production within our borders doesn’t just stabilize prices; it armors America against the unpredictable disruptions that threaten global trade. Whether war, natural disaster, trade conflict or pandemic, the United States becomes increasingly impervious to external energy shocks as domestic production expands.
For our European allies, Russia’s weaponization of energy supplies during the Ukraine conflict served as a brutal wake-up call. In 2022, Germany and neighboring countries faced an energy crisis when Russia abruptly severed fuel flows. American LNG emerged as the lifeline they desperately needed.
Yet Mr. Biden’s export restrictions forced these allies to seek alternative suppliers, including, ironically, Russia. The result? Europe spent more on Russian oil and gas last year than on aid to Ukraine, directly financing the very aggression they sought to counter.
Mr. Trump’s energy dominance strategy and his strong support for LNG exports offer Europe a viable pathway to energy independence from Russian manipulation. As American export capacity grows, Asian allies gain the option to source energy from the United States rather than volatile Middle Eastern regimes.
Several critical LNG export facilities, including Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG, stand ready to move full speed ahead pending the Department of Energy’s approval. These facilities aren’t merely industrial assets; they’re strategic pillars that strengthen America’s energy security, enhance our geopolitical leverage and expand our foreign policy options. The Trump administration is rapidly clearing the obstacles that have delayed these crucial projects.
• Joe Buccino is a retired U.S. Army colonel with five combat deployments to the Middle East, a research analyst at the Defense Innovation Board and a former communications director at U.S. Central Command. He served as the communications director for the NATO support mission in Europe during the critical period from February to November 2022.
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