U.S. Natural Gas Should be Leveraged to Uphold our Responsibilities to Americans, our Allies, and the Climate

WASHINGTON (December 18, 2024) – Today, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the below statement in response to the Department of Energy (DOE) releasing its study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports that will affect the guidance used to review and approve LNG export authorizations.

We share DOE’s view that climate progress, energy security, and the cost of living are critical factors to determine whether additional natural gas exports are in the public interest. Unfortunately, this study is inconsistent with the consensus of independent studies, including past DOE studies, showing U.S. LNG exports meet those criteria. The reality is the U.S. maintains an abundance of recoverable natural gas and must leverage it to uphold our responsibilities to U.S. consumers, our allies, and the climate.

PAGE looks forward to filing public comments with DOE on their study findings and engaging with both the current and incoming administrations to ensure that the LNG export approval process is timely and properly considers U.S. LNG’s benefits to the public interest.

Background:

The U.S. LNG value chain supported 222,450 jobs and $23.2 billion in labor income last year. And a landmark new study out this week from S&P Global concludes U.S. LNG export growth through 2040 will support nearly 500,000 jobs and that our tremendous natural gas resources have supported U.S. domestic natural gas production growth of over 40 bcf/d since 2010, dwarfing LNG export growth by a 3 to 1 ratio, while driving a sustained reduction in U.S. prices.

Additionally, a 2024 Congressional Research Service report shows that domestic natural gas prices remained stable while the U.S. grew from zero LNG exports in 2015 to becoming the world’s largest exporter. This price stability occurred despite the DOE previously warning that prices could increase as much as 54%.

Natural gas has proven to reduce emissions by replacing coal in the U.S. In fact, the International Energy Agency found coal-to-gas switching continued to be responsible for the largest emissions reductions in the U.S. power sector in 2023, a dynamic that can and should be deployed around the world. A 2024 study from ICF International concluded that without U.S. LNG exports abroad, global GHG emissions would have increased in 2022 by over 112 million metric tons, mostly produced by coal. The same study shows that without U.S. LNG exported abroad, 88% of that energy would be replaced with higher emitting fuels (54% coal and 34% fuel oil). And if the Energy Information Administration’s expectation that U.S. LNG exports increase 74% by 2030 is correct, U.S. LNG would be responsible for a reduction of 194 million tons of CO₂e per year.

U.S. LNG also plays an essential role in ensuring energy security for our closest allies that remain vulnerable to geopolitical aggression. Russian gas – which comprised 18% of EU gas imports in the first half of 2024 and outpaced U.S. gas imports – will not be fully displaced until we commit to providing Europe with a more secure supply of energy. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently echoed this sentiment by highlighting U.S. LNG as an ideal solution to replace Russian gas.

About PAGE

The Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) is a coalition of responsible energy companies, allied NGOs, labor unions and leading climate advocates dedicated to reducing global emissions by promoting U.S. policies that protect the climate, strengthen the economy, lower energy costs and bolster energy security through the production and export of cleaner natural gas. Learn more at https://www.pagecoalition.com/.

Download the media statement here.

PAGE Congratulates Donald J. Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 7, 2024) – Today, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the below statement in response to this week’s election results.

PAGE congratulates President-elect Trump, as well as newly elected and re-elected Members of Congress. We are committed to working with the new Administration and Congress on critical energy and climate policies.

The results continue to demonstrate the overwhelming, bipartisan support for U.S. energy security and the need for meaningful permitting reform. Notably, Americans support the critical role of natural gas as a decarbonization tool. In fact, 76% of voters want the country to steadily transition to clean energy by using all options currently available, including natural gas, to keep energy affordable and reliable.

Now is the time for policymakers to act on voter consensus by unleashing U.S. natural gas, which will drive down energy costs and emissions while bolstering energy security. PAGE will remain actively engaged with stakeholders across the political spectrum to ensure that comprehensive permitting reform that includes timely LNG export approvals and pipeline infrastructure remains a legislative priority so that we can fully realize the potential of U.S. natural gas.

About PAGE

PAGE Congratulates Founding Member EQT Corp.’s Net Zero Achievement

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 31, 2024) – Today, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the below statement in response to EQT Corp. announcing that it has reached net zero scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions across its legacy operations ahead of its 2025 goal.

PAGE congratulates founding member EQT Corp. on becoming the first traditional energy company of scale to achieve net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across legacy operations.

Reducing emissions associated with natural gas production and transport is critical to ensuring the fuel can continue to play a leading role in lowering power sector and industrial emissions. PAGE members are committed to continuing their industry leadership on emissions reductions across the natural gas value chain, building on the steps they’ve already taken to establish U.S. natural gas as a key tool for global decarbonization.

About PAGE

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Insights from Climate Week NYC: U.S. Natural Gas is the Ideal Energy Source of the World

U.S. natural gas can help us achieve our global climate goals and provide energy security for our allies

For years, Climate Week NYC has provided policymakers, government officials, and industry leaders with a platform to discuss effective solutions to decarbonize global emissions. Among over 100,000 estimated participants at Climate Week, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) was at the forefront of these conversations, emphasizing the bipartisan and international consensus that natural gas plays a key role in the energy transition as a reliable low-carbon energy source.

The consensus coming out of Climate Week is clear – natural gas is essential to achieving the dual goals of energy security and reducing global emissions, by decreasing dependence on global coal and dirtier energy from Russia. One of the most effective ways to lower power sector and industrial emissions is to switch from coal to natural gas, especially in regions heavily reliant on coal. We've seen the results of this approach firsthand in the U.S, where 65% of the country’s power sector emissions reductions from 2005-2019 were achieved through coal-to-gas switching.

“It’s Never Been a More Important Time to Produce Energy”

PAGE kicked off Climate Week by sponsoring an Axios event, “A Conversation on Global Deployment of Energy Alternatives to Coal.” During the “View from the Top” discussion, Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO of EQT, emphasized how replacing foreign coal with U.S. natural gas is the best way to continue reducing worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but that there are barriers to delivering affordable and reliable energy for consumers. Among these challenges include a lack of natural gas infrastructure and the Department of Energy’s pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) export approvals, preventing the U.S. from delivering sufficient natural gas supplies to our allies overseas. His remarks echoed earlier points raised by Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, who noted “it’s increasingly hard to get natural gas infrastructure built in the United States," due to a number of roadblocks.

The conversation about the benefits of U.S. natural gas continued throughout Climate Week and culminated in the presentation of a new independent report released by the Center on Regulation in Europe – “Securing Europe’s Net Zero Path and Flexible LNG.” The study confirmed the key role of LNG as a transitional fuel that can ensure Europe’s energy security and achieve the EU’s ambitious climate goals. Notable speakers during the presentation included Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources, and PAGE member Naomi Boness, Managing Director, Stanford Natural Gas and Stanford Hydrogen Initiatives, who highlighted the importance of cooperation among allies to ensure a reliable energy supply during times of heightened geopolitical instability.

In Europe, the absence of stable energy supplies has contributed to a volatile energy market, with electricity prices now 2-3 times higher than those in the U.S. according to the recent Draghi Report. As a consequence, several EU states are reopening once dormant coal plants to reduce energy costs. While there may be short-term economic benefits, this rise in coal-fired power generation can have disastrous climate impacts and not provide longer-term stability to energy markets in Europe and the rest of the world. In fact, if just 5% of the worst emitting coal-power plants switched to natural gas, global power sector emissions would be reduced by 30%. This would increase to nearly 50% if that switch incorporated carbon capture and storage.

From left to right: Geoffrey Pyatt, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Toby Z. Rice

We Must Address the Elephant in the Room – Methane

Another important part of PAGE’s message at Climate Week focused on the need to address the elephant in the room – methane. The U.S. natural gas industry understands the critical role it must play in in reducing methane emissions and PAGE members have already taken significant steps to eliminate methane through investment and innovation. These efforts have helped establish U.S. natural gas as among the cleanest in the world.

As a result, U.S. methane emissions decreased by 23% from 2020 - 2022, with only an additional 7% decline needed by 2030 to meet the global methane pledge. By further reducing methane emissions across the natural gas value chain, we can continue to secure our allies’ energy in the cleanest way possible. Several House Democrats recently acknowledged this in a letter to President Biden, affirming that “American LNG is produced with some of the strongest environmental protections globally.”

The Bottom Line

As we navigate the complexities of the energy transition, U.S. natural gas stands alone as the most viable solution to reduce global GHG emissions and secure energy supplies. At Climate Week, this consensus was apparent among conversations with policymakers and industry experts, reflecting the pragmatic dialogue last year at COP28 that recognized natural gas as having a key role to play in meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

As we look towards the future, we need to capitalize on the opportunity we have before us. The U.S. has a responsibility to lead this movement towards a cleaner, more secure energy future with our abundant supply of natural gas.

Securing Europe’s Net Zero Path with Flexible LNG

The European think tank Center on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) released an independent report, with key contributions from the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE), which underscores the critical role that flexible U.S. LNG plays in Europe’s energy security and decarbonization pathway.

Top findings of the CERRE report include:

Access to flexible LNG supplies, particularly through LNG agreements with North American suppliers, is crucial in moderating price spikes during energy crunch scenarios.
Forward contracting for flexible LNG leads to lower and more stable gas prices, which enhances Europe’s energy security and fosters conditions conducive to re-industrialization.
The price stability benefits of forward contracting for flexible LNG extend to electricity and hydrogen, which are often closely linked to gas prices.
Forward contracting for flexible LNG can avoid the extensive fiscal interventions and macroeconomic instability that Europe experienced during the 2021-2023 energy crisis.

Access the executive summary and full summary here.

Fracking Unleashes Natural Gas to Lower Global Emissions, Grow U.S. Economy, & Support U.S. National Security

WASHINGTON (September 11, 2024) – Today, Chris Treanor, executive director of the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the following statement in response to Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s exchange on natural gas during last night’s presidential debate:

Last night’s debate reinforced the bipartisan backing of natural gas as a vital American resource.

Vice President Harris highlighting her work to invest in the clean energy economy while increasing “domestic gas production to historic levels” is a recognition of widespread voter support for this strategic energy resource and the critical role U.S. LNG plays in reducing emissions and helping allies around the world. In fact, a recent poll commissioned by PAGE shows that 69% of voters, including most Democrats, support increasing natural gas production.

America has the natural resources and the voter mandate to lead a steady global energy transition with natural gas at the forefront, and PAGE urges both campaigns to further champion natural gas as an affordable climate and energy security solution. We will remain actively engaged with stakeholders across the political spectrum to ensure that comprehensive permitting reform that includes timely LNG export approvals and pipeline infrastructure remains a legislative priority so that we can fully realize the potential of U.S. natural gas.

About PAGE

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New Report Analyzes Lifecycle GHG Emissions of U.S. LNG Exports

Washington, D.C., July 30, 2024 – Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future (NACEF) and the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) today released a comprehensive study on the lifecycle of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and how they compare to alternative fuels. The Study, commissioned by NACEF and PAGE, and conducted by ICF, “Lifecycle GHG Emissions of U.S. LNG Exports: Concepts, Methodologies, Data and Results,” shows that U.S. LNG exports are likely to have represented a net reduction in the world’s GHG emissions compared to the mix of alternative fuels (primarily coal and oil) that would have likely substituted for the LNG exports had they hypothetically not existed in 2022.

The purpose of the Study is to provide a detailed explanation of how lifecycle analyses (LCAs) of GHG emissions for U.S. exports of LNG are estimated and how those estimated emissions compared with the LCA GHG emissions of alternative fuels such as coal and petroleum products in 2022. The Study presents a Base Case analysis using transparent, well-documented and consistent data and methods and, where uncertainties exist for important parameters used to make these estimates, provides sensitivity analyses. Additionally, the Study compares its results to other studies, including one by Robert Howarth cited in media reports as the basis for the Biden Administration’s “LNG pause,” and identifies how the application of assumptions, such as methane leak rates and the global warming potent (GWP) factor, can have major impacts on the results.

The key results of the Study can be summarized as follows:

U.S. LNG exports were likely to have had a lower lifecycle of GHG emissions when compared to using coal alone, fuel oil alone or the expected mix of alternative fuels in 2022 (summed across all countries importing U.S. LNG) that would most likely replace imported U.S. LNG.
Under this Study’s base case assumptions, shifting from U.S. LNG to coal increases GHG emissions by 47.7% to 85.9%. Shifting U.S. LNG to fuel oil increases emissions by 24.8% to 41.8%.
Without U.S. LNG exported abroad, that energy would be replaced with 54% coal, 34% fuel oil, 16% domestic gas, and 8% renewable sources. The total increase in world GHG emissions in the absence of U.S. LNG in 2022 would have been 112 million metric tons.
The majority of other studies reviewed here show similar results to this Study when comparing LNG with coal and fuel oil in power-plant or industrial applications.
The Study relied on U.S. EPA GHG Inventory and the GREET factors designated by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act. Other studies showing U.S. LNG as having more LCA emissions than coal have relied on different source materials and applied different methodologies and assumptions.

An important caveat is that the Study determined the mix of fuels that are likely to have been expected to substitute for U.S. LNG in 2022 assuming normal short- to medium-term market dynamics (that is, price driven supply/demand shifts). The Study is not forward-looking and did not project emissions associated with future fuel use or fuel mixes. The Study did not address what long-term changes to fuel mix and GHG emissions could be achieved by government policies in the countries that import U.S. LNG to shift their fuel use further toward low-carbon solutions including nuclear power, solar, wind, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, certified lower-carbon fossil fuels, energy conservation, etc.

“U.S. LNG will continue to be an important pathway to drive down global greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. This report shows that without U.S. LNG exports in 2022, greenhouse gases would have increased by over 112 million metric tons, mostly produced by coal,” said former Senator Mary Landrieu, Co-Chair, Natural Allies Leadership Council. “Higher emissions around the world hurt us here at home, too. It’s my hope that my fellow Democrats in Washington move beyond bumper sticker slogans and begin to talk about the realities of how we can responsibly scale up renewables, drive down emissions quickly, and secure energy systems at home and abroad with affordable, reliable, and low-carbon natural gas.”

“This study underscores the fact that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal and must remain a solution to achieving our climate and energy security goals,” said Chris Treanor, Executive Director of PAGE. “We urge policymakers to take heed of this data and advance energy policies that expand natural gas to reduce emissions, create jobs, and strengthen the economy.”

Access the executive summary and full summary here.

About Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future

Natural Allies is a coalition of leaders that recognize the vital role natural gas, and its infrastructure must play to secure our economic future and enhance our natural security. Natural gas partnered with renewable energy can accelerate our path to a clean energy future – ensuring affordability and reliability while reducing carbon emissions domestically and internationally. To learn more about the members and the organization, please visit: naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org.

About PAGE

About this Study
ICF is a non-partisan, non-political company that delivers a broad and diverse range of independent, unbiased, objective analyses and related consulting services to help its clients meet their missions. This report may not be construed as ICF’s endorsement of any policy, regulatory, lobbying, legal, or other advocacy position or organization or political party. Any conclusions presented herein do not necessarily represent the policy or political views of ICF. ICF’s services do not constitute legal or tax advice.

Views of Individual NACEF and PAGE Members. This Material has been prepared by ICF and issued by NACEF and PAGE and not the individual members of NACEF and PAGE. This Material does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the individual members of those organizations.

PAGE Statement on Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2024) – Today, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the below statement in response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resource’s Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024:

The PAGE Coalition appreciates Chair Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso’s bipartisan work to keep the critical importance of modernizing our nation’s outdated and restrictive permitting system at the forefront of the national conversation.

In particular, we appreciate their focus on timely consideration of LNG export applications and look forward to working with Congress to build on this proposal and advance permitting reform that addresses pipeline infrastructure. Comprehensive permitting reform that includes timely LNG export approvals and pipeline infrastructure is a necessary investment that will strengthen national security, reduce global emissions, and stabilize U.S. natural gas supply to meet energy demands, while keeping prices low.

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PAGE Responds to Federal Court Finding Illegality in LNG Export Pause

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2024) – Today, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) issued the below statement regarding a federal court’s recent decision to reverse the Biden Administration’s U.S. LNG Export Pause:

Members of PAGE were pleased to see a federal court find illegality in the Biden Administration’s LNG Export Pause, approving a request from 16 U.S. states, including Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia, to lift the pause on new approvals for natural gas exports while the litigation against the rule unfolds.

The court also rightfully recognized the “undisputed” fact that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal. The ruling cited analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) that shows “burning natural gas for power emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants than other fossil fuels.” In fact, the Department of Energy’s own 2019 analysis concluded that the life cycle emissions of U.S. LNG exports to Europe and Asia are lower than regional coal and Russian gas on both a 20-year and 100-year basis.

As emphasized in PAGE’s January statement and letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, restricting the export capacity for U.S. LNG will have serious foreign policy implications and compromise future decarbonization progress. These realities were echoed by the federal court ruling, noting that the court had “reviewed voluminous studies… all of which boast of both the economic and environmental benefits of exporting natural gas.”

PAGE will continue to closely monitor and engage with the Administration to permanently end the pause so it does not continue to affect our national security and climate goals.

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