Merkley introduces bill banning LNG exports to China, Russia, Iran and North Korea

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown on Wednesday introduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act, legislation that they said would lower prices for American households by banning the export of crude oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to our biggest adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

“It’s time to stop raising prices for Americans by sending LNG to our adversaries,” said Senator Merkley. “I’m partnering with Senator Brown to fight to lower energy prices for working Americans.” 

“We should not allow American liquid natural gas to fuel China’s state-sponsored industries. The Chinese Communist Party uses that energy to cheat and undermine Ohio production and Ohio jobs,” said Senator Brown. “Blocking China and other adversaries from obtaining our LNG will protect our national security, and keep more of this energy in America, helping bring down prices for Ohioans.”

In addition to Merkley and Brown, this legislation is sponsored by Senators Angus King (I-VT) and Jack Reed (D-RI).

Since 2018, U.S. LNG exports have more than tripled to 14 billion cubic feet per day, making the United States the largest exporter of LNG in global history. Further, exports could rise another 48 billion cubic feet per day, almost three times more than today’s large volumes, when projects that are either under construction or fully permitted come online.

In 2021, 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of LNG were exported to China, making it the second largest destination for U.S. LNG at 12.7 percent of exports. Exports to China dropped in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine, but China is locking up long-term LNG contracts from the U.S. for proposed projects. Exporting LNG is causing price instability and rising costs for American households and industries. A report by Energy Innovation found that approving pending LNG export terminals would increase natural gas costs for American households, businesses, and industry by 9 to 14% each year.

The Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act would increase American energy security and protect American consumers by ensuring that valuable national resources are not being exported to adversarial nations—helping to keep domestic prices stable and affordable for American households and businesses, while not locking us in to decades of fossil gas infrastructure that exacerbates climate chaos.

Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here.

A summary of the bill can be found by clicking here.