The U.S. Department of Energy has officially resumed LNG export authorizations following the release of its LNG export study. The study, commissioned by the Biden administration in 2024 during a politically motivated pause on new approvals, overwhelmingly reaffirms what U.S. energy producers – and allies- have long known: American LNG is critical for economic growth, global energy security, and emission reductions.

Trump Ends the Pause, DOE Finally Follows Through

In early 2024, President Biden halted all new LNG export authorizations to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries, pending the completion of a study on the environmental and economic impacts of U.S. LNG exports. While President Trump ended the LNG pause shortly after the start of his second term, the DOE had not yet resumed approvals – until now. The draft study was completed at the end of 2024, and included a 60-day comment period. The conclusion? LNG exports are a net positive across the board:

DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tala Goudarzi summed it up clearly:

“The 2024 study confirms what our nation always knew — LNG supports our economy, strengthens our allies, and enhances national security.”

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed the findings, declaring:

“The facts are clear: expanding America’s LNG exports is good for Americans and good for the world.”

DOE Study: Key Findings Underscore LNG’s Strategic Value

The DOE outlined three key findings from the report, which underscore the important role U.S. energy production and LNG exports play in global energy security:

• The United States has a robust natural gas supply that is sufficient to meet growing levels of exports while minimizing impacts to domestic prices.
• Growing LNG exports increases our gross domestic product and expands jobs while improving our trade balance.
• Increasing U.S. LNG exports enhances domestic and international global security with no discernible impact to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In short, the data dismantle arguments that LNG exports harm the U.S. economy or the environment. Instead, U.S. LNG exports do the opposite.

U.S. LNG: Leading the World and Filling the Gap

In 2024, the United States cemented its position as the largest LNG exporter in the world, beating out Qatar and Australia. U.S. LNG exports reached a record 88.4 million tons (MT) in 2024 – representing more than 20 percent of global LNG exports. Today, the United States is on track to triple its export capacity by 2030.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. LNG exports became increasingly important in the global supply chain. U.S. LNG was able to fill the void in the market when Europe was cut off from Russian LNG.

A top energy State Department official called out that Russia not only “proved itself to be a completely unreliable supplier,” but that U.S. LNG was a “lifesaver” when the time came for us to diversify energy sources.

Global Demand Signals LNG’s Role in Energy Security

Beyond Europe, demand for American LNG is also strong in Asia. The International Gas Union’s 2025 LNG report notes that countries like Japan, India, and Indonesia have been increasingly turning to LNG to enhance energy security and reduce emissions.

A separate recent Berkely Research Group study further underscored the potential emissions savings those countries could uncover from US LNG. The report found that the GHG emissions intensity of coal supply chains was more than double the GHG emissions from US LNG for power generation in Asia.

In April this year, the United States, Japan and South Korea issued a joint statement committing to increasing U.S. LNG exports to Japan and South Korea to bolster energy security.

LNG Infrastructure Boom Creates Jobs and Revenue

The continued momentum on U.S. LNG has driven a slew of LNG projects across the United States. There are currently 20 LNG export terminals that have been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with eight already under construction.  These projects, and the continued growth of the oil and natural gas industry in America, are providing tremendous economic benefits.

According to industry estimates, U.S. LNG exports have provided more than 273,000 jobs to date, and are projected to provide $166 billion in tax revenue through 2040.

Bottom Line

With the study finalized and the pause lifted, the path is now clear for U.S. LNG to reach its full potential. America’s natural gas industry stands ready to deliver cleaner, affordable, and reliable energy to our allies while boosting domestic jobs and lowering emissions abroad.

It’s time to move forward – with an energy policy that supports LNG, American innovation, and an all-of-the-above approach that prioritizes energy security, economic growth, and global leadership.