LNG Public Interest Determination Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Casten
Introduced
Summary
Require LNG export approvals to meet new public interest tests centered on climate, consumer costs, and environmental justice. This law makes the Secretary of Energy justify any natural gas export by measuring greenhouse gas impacts, effects on U.S. energy prices, and burdens on vulnerable communities.
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- Families and consumers: Requires an economic assessment that estimates effects on all U.S. consumers with specific attention to low-income households, working families, small businesses, manufacturers, state and local governments, and fertilizer users.
- Climate and energy markets: Requires a climate assessment using the 20-year global warming potential of methane, lifecycle greenhouse gas accounting, estimates of social cost, and analysis of how exports affect investment in renewables, electrification, and paths to net-zero by 2050.
- Environmental justice and process changes: Requires an environmental justice analysis consistent with Executive Order 14096, public participation with accessibility protections, removes a prior NEPA categorical exclusion for LNG exports, and shifts certain procedural roles to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission while directing the Secretary of Energy to issue implementing rules within one year.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Stricter review for natural gas exports
Natural gas could be exported only if the Secretary of Energy approves it after an application and hearing. Approval would be allowed only if the export is not likely to worsen climate change, raise U.S. energy prices or volatility, or harm vulnerable communities. DOE would have to do three studies: climate, economic effects on U.S. consumers and industries, and environmental justice and civil rights. The studies would use the latest science, count full lifecycle emissions, estimate the social cost of pollution, and consider effects on clean energy and local fisheries. DOE would take public comments and address language, disability, and resource barriers. Exports to free‑trade partner countries would no longer get an automatic OK; they would go through this review. Export orders would count as major federal actions under NEPA, and a prior categorical exclusion for LNG exports would be removed, so fuller environmental review could be required. DOE could approve with conditions or in part.
One-year deadlines for export decisions
The Secretary of Energy would have to issue the public‑interest finding within one year after the later of getting FERC’s final environmental report or finishing the required studies. The Department would also need to write the implementing rule within one year of enactment. This could make timelines more predictable for applicants and communities.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Casten
IL • D
Cosponsors
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/5/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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