Southwest Allegheny News

In response to President Joe Biden's decision to pause the approval of pending applications for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, Representative Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) has voiced his concerns. Ortitay believes that Biden's announcement is driven by politics and bad policy.

Ortitay highlights the fact that Russia is one of the top exporters of LNG and that, due to the war in Ukraine, other countries have reduced their reliance on Russia. By pausing pending applications, Biden is limiting choices for our allies and potentially increasing their dependence on Russia. Ortitay argues that this move will ultimately increase energy costs in the global market, negatively impacting people's pocketbooks both domestically and internationally.

Ortitay emphasizes the importance of stability in the marketplace and argues that natural gas is a cleaner fuel. Therefore, he believes that the Biden administration's environmental concerns hold no merit. Ortitay urges U.S. congressmen and senators to push back on this decision, as he believes it will drive up costs and sacrifice well-paying jobs in his legislative district and throughout western Pennsylvania.

Ortitay represents the 46th Legislative District, which includes various townships and boroughs in Washington and Allegheny counties. His statement reflects the concerns of those in his district who rely on the natural gas industry for employment and economic stability.

The pause on LNG exports has raised concerns among industry experts and lawmakers alike. Critics argue that it will hinder economic growth and harm U.S. energy independence. Supporters of the pause, on the other hand, believe it is a necessary step to address environmental concerns and transition towards renewable energy sources.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the pause on LNG exports will impact the global energy market and the livelihoods of those in the natural gas industry.