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  • Final NS2 Letter To Biden

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    Fred Keller
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    Final NS2 Letter to Biden

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    84 views6 pages

    Final NS2 Letter To Biden

    Uploaded by

    Fred Keller
    -

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 6
    Congress of the United States ‘Washington, BE 20515 June 7, 2021 President Joseph R, Biden “The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ‘Washington, D.C. 20500 {As the nation recovers from a eyber terrorist attack onthe Colonial Pipeline that reportedly originated in Russia, we have strong objections to your decison to waive sanctions for Nord Steam 2G fand effectively ensure the completion ofthe Nord Stream 2 pipeline, These sanctions focused om a one time communis intelligence officer inthe former Soviet-contolled East Germany and close crony of ‘Rassian President VIadimir Putin. The completion of Nond Stream 2, which was slowed during the Tramp ‘Administration, wil bea gitto Putin and his efforts o increase geopolitical influence in Europ. ‘Waiving sation for Nod Stream 2 “because its almost completely finished” the wrong message to ‘our ales and partners and unietmines ou eredility and global leadership. This action, which will send ‘more Russian natural ga to Europ, also pus US. resources ata distinct competitive disadvantage, costing American jobs and reducing America's geopolitical influence For four yeas, congressional Democrats obsessed over unfounded claims of Rusia influence ‘over Trump Adminstration polices. Democrats would have quickly called for an investigation had President Trump saived sanctions on a fiend of Putin that also resulted in making American resources less competitive, increased Russian global influence, transported dirtier Russian foi fel to our allies in Europe and increased global greenhouse gas emissions. During his confirmation hearing, Seretary of State Antony Blinken recognized the national security implications of Nord Sweam 2 when he told a Senate committee, am determined todo ‘whatever we can to prevent tat completion.”' However, waiving sanction isthe opposite of doing “whatever we ean do fo prevent that completion” and rises serious concerns about the commitments your ‘Administration makes before Congres and to our allies. Furthermore, given your open hostility to domestic pipelines like the Keystone XL pipeline, which also was atop priority for our Canadian allies, itis baling that you ae willing to gree-light Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipelne. The Keystone XL pipeline would enhance our energy security and «reate job opportunites for Amerieans. Lifting these sanctions, however, rivitizes Russian energy over ‘American energy and Russian jobs over American jobs In aon, it makes no sate to favo higher-emiting Ressian natural sus over the more crbon- fiendly American lquitied natural gas LNG) to mect rising global demand. Accerdng tthe Department of Energy's Natimal Energy Technology Laboratory, Russian natural gxs exported to Europe has a life eyce greenhouse gas emissions profile 41 percent higher than American LNG exported to Europe? If Europe switched eurent supply of natural gas frm dir Russian natural gas © US. "ainken, Anon, "Nominaion of Hon, Antony J. Binken To Be US. Seeetary of ute Part 1" Govino, anu, 2021 bps goviafo gon Content phs/CHRG-I7shrgt3890un)CHRG-11sbrgt3890 hin Life Cele GHG Perspective oa Exporting LNG tom the US. 2019 Update” National Energy Technolgy Laborato (September 2019) [LNG global emissions would be reduced over 70 million tons each year. The completion of Nord Stream 2 will only increase this emissions disparity. ‘The recent cyber atack on the Colonial Pipeline i another reminder of longstanding efforts by Russi o undermine American produetion andtanspor of energy: In discussing te attack, you noted that "we do have strong reas to believe the criminals who di the attack are living in Russi,” But this isnot the fist discovery of Rusia efforts against American energy In @ 2018 report, the House Committe on Science, Space, and Technology determined: “As the treat of American energy continues o gow, so does the Kremlin’ incentive to influence energy operations in Europe andthe United Stats. Moreover, as they have ‘demonstrated, the Kremlin will use any and all tools at their disposal to preserve Russia's ‘dominant energy stats. ‘A 2018 Democratic staff ep from the Senate Foreign Relations Commite highlighted the meddling ‘ofthe Russian government in opposing natural gas fom non-Russian sourees and inelods a reference to reports of NATO officials exosing Russian intelligence agencies for providing “cover support 10 ‘European environmental groups to campaign against facking for natural gas thereby keeping the EU more dependent on Russian applies" Unfortunately, it isnt jus the Russians looking to undermine American energy and American jobs, Atevery tur, your Adninistration continues to seek ction that wil result in kiling American projects and pink-slipping American workers. America needs a diferent response at time when out ‘ation is stil recovering Irom eri attack on the Colonial Pipeline and when states in New England have had to resort to importce Russian natural gas because ofa lack of pipeline capacity. Even Secretary ‘of Energy Jenifer Granholm admitted that using a pipeline is "the best way” to transport fel. We ean ‘only hope that your suppor fr pipelines connecting Russia and the European Unioa will translate into ‘support fr sinilar project inthe United States that enhance energy Security and create American jobs. ‘We urge you to rethink your action and fully implement the Congressonally mandated sanctions ‘agains all responsible parte: and actors to permanently stop completion of Nord Steam 2, AsMR Ach fan eff kis. nile, > hp: foxes comolecbiden-tasforee-

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