Biden Energy Secretary Affirms Support for U.S. LNG Exports, Contradicting John Kerry’s Purported Warnings to Allies

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm yesterday testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) that the export of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to America’s allies is a “good thing.” The secretary was responding to a series of questions from Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) who recounted conversations with senior Japanese officials who told him that White House Climate Czar John Kerry had discouraged them from pursuing the import of American LNG to meet their country’s energy needs.

“Do you agree with John Kerry’s approach to going to Asia saying, ‘You should have reluctance of buying American LNG?’” asked Sen. Sullivan. “I hope you can disavow that. I heard that from Japanese officials telling me that he is saying that. I mean, whose side is this guy on?...Assume he said that. Can you just openly reject that and say, of course we would want our allies to buy American LNG?”

“I have the greatest respect for John Kerry,” Secretary Granholm replied. “I can’t assume anything that—I do believe he is doing an amazing job across the globe getting communities and countries to step up to their commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”

“I’m just asking—our Japanese allies need to know this. They’ve come to me. So buying American LNG would be a good thing, not a bad thing?” Sen. Sullivan asked.

“Yes,” Granholm answered.

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