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Friday 12 april 2024

Environmentalists protest as Biden administration approves huge

oil export terminal off Texas coast

From Front Enterprise CEO Jim Teague
hailed the oil project's ap-
By MATTHEW DALY proval. The terminal will pro-
Associated Press vide "a more environmentally
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a friendly, safe, efficient and
move that environmentalists cost-effective way to deliver
called a betrayal, the Biden crude oil to global markets,''
administration has approved he said in a statement.
the construction of a deep- The project will include two
water oil export terminal off pipelines to carry crude from
the Texas coast that would shore to the deepwater port,
be the largest of its kind in reducing the need for ship-
the United States. to-ship transfers of oil. The ter-
The Sea Port Oil Terminal be- minal is expected to begin
ing developed off Freeport, operations by 2027.
Texas, will be able to load two Since the project was first sub-
supertankers at once, with mitted for federal review in
an export capacity of 2 mil- 2019, "Enterprise has worked
lion barrels of crude oil per diligently with various federal,
day. The $1.8 billion project state and local authorities,
by Houston-based Enterprise and participated in multiple
Products Partners received a public meetings that have
deepwater port license from allowed individuals and stake-
the Department of Transporta- An oil tanker passes along a channel, March 2, 2022, in Port Aransas, Texas. holder groups to learn about
tion's Maritime Administration Associated Press the project and provide their
this week, the final step in a public and the climate from crude oil to be exported from of voters who want to see comments,'' including some
five-year federal review. the harms of oil is to keep it the project may represent a a shift away from fossil fuels, studies that have been trans-
Environmentalists denounced in the ground." significant amount of GHG not a doubling down on dirty lated into Spanish and Viet-
the license approval, saying In a statement after the li- emissions, these emissions and deadly energy projects.'' namese, the company said in
it contradicted President Joe cense was approved, the largely already occur as part DiPaola was referring to the a statement. More than half
Biden's climate agenda and Maritime Administration said of the U.S. crude oil supply administration's January an- of Freeport's 10,600 residents
would lead to "disastrous" the project meets a number chain,'' the agency said in nouncement that it is delaying are Hispanic, according to
planet-warming greenhouse of congressionally mandated an email to The Associated consideration of new natural the U.S. Census Bureau.
gas emissions, equivalent to requirements, including ex- Press. "Therefore, the project gas export terminals in the Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, hailed
nearly 90 coal-fired power tensive environmental reviews itself is likely to have minimal United States, even as gas the license approval as "a
plants. The action could and a federal determination effect on the current GHG shipments to Europe and Asia major victory for Texas's en-
jeopardize Biden's support that the port's operation is in emissions associated with the have soared since Russia in- ergy industry" and said the
from environmental allies and the national interest. overall U.S. crude oil supply vaded Ukraine. Biden administration had de-
young voters already disen- "While the Biden-Harris ad- chain.'' Environmental groups The decision, announced at layed the Sea Port terminal
chanted by the Democratic ministration is accelerating scoffed at that claim. the start of the 2024 presiden- and other projects for years.
administration's approval last America's transition to a clean "The Biden administration must tial election year, aligned the "After tireless work by my office
year of the massive Willow oil energy future, action is also stop flip-flopping on fossil fu- Democratic president with and many others to secure
project in Alaska. being taken to manage the els,'' said Cassidy DiPaola of environmentalists who fear this deepwater port license,
"Nothing about this project transition in the near term,'' Fossil Free Media, a nonprofit the huge increase in exports I'm thrilled that we're help-
is in alignment with President said the agency, which is group that opposes the use of liquefied natural gas, or ing bring more jobs to Texas
Biden's climate and environ- nicknamed MARAD. of fossil fuels such as oil, coal LNG, is locking in potentially and greater energy security
mental justice goals,'' said The administration's multiyear and natural gas. catastrophic planet-warming to America and our allies,''
Kelsey Crane, senior policy review included consultation "Approving the Sea Port Oil emissions even as Biden has Cruz said in a statement. "That
advocate at Earthworks, an with at least 20 federal, state Terminal after pausing LNG pledged to cut climate pol- this victory was delayed by
environmental group that has and local agencies, MARAD exports is not just bad news lution in half by 2030. years of needless bureau-
long opposed the export ter- said. The agency ultimately for our climate, it's incoher- Industry groups and Republi- cratic dithering shows why
minal. "The communities that determined that the project ent politics,'' DiPaola said. cans have condemned the we need broader permitting
will be impacted by (the oil would have no significant Biden "can't claim to be a pause, saying LNG exports sta- reform in this country.''
terminal) have once again effect on the production or climate leader one day and bilize global energy markets, The oil export facility, one
been ignored and will be consumption of U.S. crude oil. then turn around and grant support thousands of Ameri- of several license applica-
forced to live with the threat "Although the (greenhouse a massive handout to the oil can jobs and reduce global tions under federal review,
of more oil spills, explosions gas) emissions associated with industry the next. It's time for greenhouse emissions by tran- is located 30 miles offshore
and pollution,'' Crane said. the upstream production and President Biden to listen to sitioning countries away from of Brazoria County, Texas, in
"The best way to protect the downstream end use of the the overwhelming majority coal, a far dirtier fossil fuel. the Gulf of Mexico.q