The Biden administration wants to suspend liquefied natural gas (LNG) rail transport, reversing a rule introduced by former President Donald Trump in 2020. This decision was made by the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
North Dakota Pipeline Authority director Justin Kringstad reiterated that this change will have no impact on the state of North Dakota, as that state does not transport LNG by rail. However, Kringstad stressed the importance of understanding the regulatory landscape as natural gas volumes continue to grow in order to find efficient forms of transportation.
Kringstad believes that the 2020 scheme was introduced primarily to serve areas that are not accessible via pipelines, which are the main means of transport for LNG. However, some Republicans, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, oppose the decision. Gov. Burgum expressed concern about the Biden administration’s apparent determination to ban all forms of fossil fuel production and transportation, which threatens the country’s energy security.
North Dakota is a net exporter of natural gas, with most of it being transported to other states via pipelines. In addition, some of the LNG is trucked to oil fields to supplement the diesel fuel used in operations. Kringstad emphasized the advantage of LNG over compressed gas, explaining that it allows a large amount of natural gas to be stored in a smaller space.
Sources: KFYR
Definitions:
– Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state at very low temperatures to facilitate its storage and transportation.
– Pipeline: Pipe system for transporting liquids, gases or other substances over long distances.
