Dan Eberhart: The Hidden Qatar-Backed 'Influencer' Pushing The American LNG Pause

To kick off the presidential election year, the Biden administration announced plans to stall new permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects – a move that Forbes Senior Contributor Gaurav Sharma aptly called “A pause that drew no applause.”

Far from applause, the announcement drew outcry from energy experts, our European allies, some Democratic lawmakers, and even environmentalists concerned the move will force importing countries to revert to coal.

Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that the United States was Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas supplier in 2023. That marks the third consecutive year in which the United States supplied more LNG to Europe than any other country.

So, it is no wonder key players in the energy industry tout LNG exports as an American success story that has delivered millions of dollars in economic development to Gulf Coast communities. And when Russia invaded Ukraine, it was American natural gas exports that allowed them to stop buying Putin’s fuel. From an environmental standpoint, American-made natural gas is far cleaner than other energy sources popular in developing countries, such as wood, biomass, and coal. LNG emits 40 percent less carbon than coal.

Why announce a policy that weakens global energy security and undermines efforts to lower global climate emissions?

The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote that the administration set this market-moving energy policy to appease “TikTok climate ‘influencers.” The evidence backs them up – a White House press release touting the ban listed quotes from famous TikTok influencers above quotes from U.S. Senators and administration officials.

The WSJ editorial, Biden and the TikTok Anti-LNG Crusade, also questioned whether the “pause” on new LNG permits would send the wrong message to allies and adversaries, causing them to seek gas from potentially hostile nations such as Qatar, Russia, or Iran.

However, a new story development suggests that driving business to our adversaries is a more intentional outcome than anyone thought – and could be thanks to another “influencer” of sorts.

The Washington Free Beacon reported a connection between John Podesta – the acknowledged mastermind behind the Biden administration’s decision to push pause on LNG permits – and the country of Qatar.

John Podesta’s brother, Tony Podesta, is a lobbyist who has worked for Qatar’s state-run QatarEnergy and currently works for international LNG clients with ties to Russia. Tony’s clients have a vested interest in America exporting less natural gas, and his brother was instrumental in halting the industry.