from WNYC studios. I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast. It's Thursday,

February 8th. The Biden administration paused a decision on whether or not to approve what would be

the largest natural gas export terminal

in the United States. Instead, it has directed the Energy Department to evaluate the project's

impact on climate change. First, the proposed terminal called Kalkashu Pass 2, or CP2, is being

planned for the Louisiana coastline. If approved, it would

involve bringing gas extracted via fracking through a new pipeline. At the terminal, the gas would be

condensed into liquid, chilled, and sent to markets around the world. Now, climate activists are

referring to the terminal as a carbon

megabomb. The Guardian reports it would ship up to 24 million tons of liquefied natural gas,

or LNG, each year, once built. The department has never before rejected a proposed natural gas

project on these grounds, and there are 16 other

proposed terminals which might face the same fate. So this policy decision, one way or another,

is a very big deal. And in fact, for a country, the United States, which is now the largest

liquid natural gas exporter in the world.

Climate activists are lauding the Biden administration's new position as victory.

Others see it as Biden's way to appease climate activists while not really changing that

much.

But joining us now to break down the Biden administration's pause on natural gas export at CP2,

as well as the environmental, political, and economic implications,

is Robinson Meyer, founding executive director of HeatMap,

a relatively new climate-focused media company.

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