Biden approves Alaska gas exports as critics condemn another ‘carbon bomb’

The Biden administration on Thursday approved exports of liquefied natural gas from the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a document showed, prompting criticism from environmental groups over the approval of another "carbon bomb".

The US energy department approved Alaska Gasline Development Corp's (AGDC) project to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement, mainly in Asia. Backers of the roughly $39bn project expect it to be operational by 2030 if it receives the required permits.

The project, for which exports were first approved by the administration of Donald Trump, has been strongly opposed by environmental groups.

"Joe Biden's climate presidency is flying off the rails," said Lukas Ross of Friends of the Earth. Ross pointed out this was the second US approval of a "fossil-fuel mega-project" in as many months.

The Biden administration last month approved the ConocoPhillips $7bn Willow oil and gas drilling project on Alaska's North Slope, prompting criticism of Biden's record on the climate crisis.

Alaska LNG includes a liquefaction facility on the Kenai peninsula in southern Alaska and a proposed 807-mile (1,300-km) pipeline to move gas stranded in northern Alaska across the state.

Frank Richards, the president of Alaska-owned AGDC, said the company will review the 51-page decision as it develops the project, which he said will "provide Alaskans and US allies with a significant source of low-emissions, responsibly produced energy consistent with international environmental priorities".

The Biden administration undertook an environmental review of Alaska LNG, concluding it has economic and international security benefits and that opponents had failed to show the exports were not in the "public interest".

The Biden administration modified the previous approval to prohibit venting of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide associated with the project into the atmosphere.

Earthjustice, an environmental law firm, said the approval of the project cleared the way for additional lawsuits seeking to stop the project.

The Biden administration is trying to approve more US LNG exports as it competes with Russia, traditionally one of the world's largest energy exporters. Critics say the Ukraine conflict is a "false justification" for a rush to natural gas.

An expansion of LNG terminals on the Gulf coast would double or even triple current capacity to deliver natural gas, which a report by Climate Action Tracker researchers said would keep carbon emissions above levels needed for net zero.

Russia is under pressure from western sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, and the US has boosted LNG exports to Europe after Moscow cut gas pipeline shipments to the continent.

Reuters contributed to this report