Trump’s LNG Revolution: A $2 Trillion Path to Prosperity

Imagine an America no longer shackled by runaway deficits or beholden to foreign energy markets. An America where the gas flowing from our shores not only fuels European freedom but also funds domestic prosperity. President-elect Trump has before him an unprecedented opportunity: to harness the untapped potential of America’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry and transform it into a $2 trillion engine of growth, balancing budgets and revitalizing our economy. This column explores why Trump must unleash LNG production and how it stands as a rebuke to the stifling policies of his predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Obama and Biden’s Legacy of Energy Restriction

The Obama administration’s approach to LNG was tepid at best and obstructionist at worst. Despite America’s burgeoning natural gas reserves, permits for LNG terminals were doled out like rationed bread. The first major LNG export terminal, Sabine Pass, didn’t get approval until 2011—years into Obama’s presidency. By 2016, only a handful of terminals had been approved, hampered by bureaucratic red tape and environmentalist opposition.

Enter “Sleepy Joe” Biden, whose administration took Obama’s sluggishness and ground it to a halt. In January 2024, Biden’s Department of Energy announced a moratorium on new LNG export approvals to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries, citing outdated environmental reviews. While this pause was later blocked by a federal court, the administration’s next move revealed its true intentions.

Encouraged by Biden and the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), various Soros-backed environmental groups filed suit to block LNG permits. Court records show the Biden administration’s legal defense against these challenges was lackluster at best. By all appearances, they ceded the cases to these environmental NGOs, effectively putting critical LNG projects like the CP2 and Commonwealth export terminals on hold. CP2 was first approved and then inexplicably denied by the administration, while Commonwealth’s permit was struck down by a court, further signaling a coordinated effort to stymie progress.

Trump’s Proven Record and Bold Vision

Contrast this with Trump’s first term, where he cut through the Gordian knot of regulations, approving over 20 LNG export permits and paving the way for projects like Alaska LNG, a $38 billion venture. Under his leadership, America became the world’s top LNG exporter, supplying over 13 billion cubic feet per day.

But Trump’s second term offers the chance for something far greater. By unleashing the full potential of the LNG sector—removing regulatory bottlenecks, expediting permits, and providing low-cost government-backed loans—the U.S. could quadruple LNG exports to over 50 billion cubic feet per day by 2029. This would equate to $2 trillion in annual GDP contribution, enough to significantly dent America’s ballooning $33 trillion national debt.

The Role of the DOE and FERC in LNG Permits

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) play pivotal roles in regulating LNG exports. Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the DOE reviews applications for LNG export permits, considering public interest factors such as economic, environmental, and national security impacts. Between 2017 and 2021, the DOE issued permits supporting substantial export growth. For instance, the DOE’s cumulative authorized LNG export levels exceeded 48 billion cubic feet per day by 2021, equivalent to 45% of U.S. natural gas production.

FERC complements this process by approving the siting, construction, and operation of LNG terminals. This includes evaluating environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. During Trump’s first term, streamlined permitting processes allowed projects like Golden Pass LNG and Driftwood LNG to progress more rapidly, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to expanding America’s energy footprint.

LNG projects require billions of dollars in investment and years of development. To become economically viable, most projects roll out in multiple stages. Once the first stage is operational, subsequent stages—often the second and third—are brought online. These additional stages are critical for ensuring a return on investment and making the projects economically sustainable. Under Trump, LNG developers could rely on regulatory stability to advance their projects, but Biden’s “pauses” and subsequent legal blockages have thrown these multi-stage expansions into jeopardy. Without certainty that later stages will be permitted, developers are left with stranded investments, risking the collapse of an entire industry.

The Jones Act and Puerto Rico’s Energy Crisis

A glaring example of unnecessary regulatory hurdles can be found in Puerto Rico, where the Jones Act—officially the Merchant Marine Act of 1920—prevents the island from receiving U.S.-produced LNG. The Jones Act mandates that goods transported between U.S. ports must be carried on vessels that are U.S.-built, owned, crewed, and flagged. Since no U.S.-built or Jones Act-compliant LNG tankers exist—due to the high cost and technical complexity of constructing such vessels domestically—Puerto Rico is forced to import LNG from foreign countries like Trinidad and Tobago, despite U.S. LNG being cheaper and geographically closer.

This reliance on foreign LNG drives up energy costs for Puerto Rican consumers and businesses, undermines energy security, and discourages investment in infrastructure tailored to U.S. supply. By issuing a waiver for the Jones Act specifically for Puerto Rico, Trump could immediately lower energy costs on the island and strengthen economic ties between Puerto Rico and the mainland. Such a move would not only address a pressing economic concern but also demonstrate a commitment to practical energy solutions over bureaucratic inertia.

Geopolitical and Economic Imperatives

The stakes could not be higher. Europe’s reliance on Russian gas has left it vulnerable to geopolitical blackmail, a reality laid bare by the war in Ukraine. American LNG is not just a commodity; it is a tool of freedom. By meeting Europe’s energy needs, Trump can simultaneously weaken Vladimir Putin’s grip and fortify Western alliances.

Ukraine, embattled by Russia’s invasion and grappling with energy shortages, stands to benefit immensely from increased U.S. LNG production. By supplying natural gas to Ukraine directly or through European intermediaries, America can help sustain Ukraine’s economy and ensure that its energy grid remains functional. This would solidify U.S. support for Ukraine while diminishing Russia’s leverage over the region.

In addition to countering Russian aggression, expanded LNG exports would provide Europe with a stable, long-term energy supply, mitigating the effects of winter energy crises and easing price volatility. For nations like Germany and Poland, heavily reliant on imported energy, U.S. LNG represents a lifeline, allowing them to transition away from dependency on Russian pipelines.

Public Relations and Global Leadership

Beyond its economic and geopolitical benefits, a robust LNG expansion carries significant public relations value. Trump’s commitment to energy exports would project an image of American strength and reliability, reinforcing alliances while silencing critics who accuse the U.S. of isolationism. Moreover, expanding LNG production could reshape the narrative around American energy, casting it as a force for global stability rather than merely a domestic commodity.

This strategy would also counteract progressive climate rhetoric. By positioning LNG as a cleaner alternative to coal and Russian gas, Trump can highlight America’s leadership in providing pragmatic solutions to global energy and environmental challenges.

Addressing the Left’s Environmental Objections

Critics will argue that expanding LNG exports exacerbates climate change. But let us not forget that U.S. natural gas has a lower carbon footprint than coal or Russian gas. Moreover, the revenue generated from LNG could fund next-generation nuclear power and advanced carbon capture technologies, achieving real environmental gains rather than performative virtue-signaling.

Trump’s approach to LNG also provides an opportunity to revitalize American innovation. By investing in greener extraction and export methods, the U.S. can lead in cleaner energy technologies, turning progressive criticism into a demonstration of how free markets, not mandates, solve global challenges.

Jobs, Infrastructure, and Local Economies

The economic impact of an expanded LNG industry extends beyond exports. Construction of new terminals and the expansion of existing ones would create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. From welders and engineers to dockworkers and truckers, the ripple effect would be felt in every corner of the nation.

Local economies in regions like the Gulf Coast, already hubs of LNG activity, would see a surge in activity. Hotels, restaurants, and service industries would thrive as they support the influx of workers. States could use increased tax revenues to invest in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, creating a virtuous cycle of economic growth.

Conclusion

Trump’s LNG strategy is more than an economic plan; it is a clarion call for American resurgence. Where Obama and Biden sought to stifle progress in the name of bureaucracy, Trump’s vision offers a path to prosperity and energy independence. By quadrupling LNG exports, the U.S. can add $2 trillion annually to its GDP, balance the budget, and reaffirm its place as a global leader. Additionally, this expansion would strengthen allies, support Ukraine’s resistance against Russia, and ensure that Europe is never again held hostage by despots in Moscow.

Furthermore, it would uplift domestic communities, creating jobs and revitalizing regions long overlooked. In doing so, Trump would solidify his legacy as the president who turned America’s energy potential into unparalleled economic and geopolitical strength. The only question is whether Trump will seize this moment—and history suggests he will. In the words of Ronald Reagan, "There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." It’s time to tear down those barriers and let America’s energy flow.

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