The mounting pressure on the Biden administration to approve the massive new Louisiana LNG export project, Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2), has ignited a fierce debate between environmentalists and business interests. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is expected to vote on approval of CP2, which would be twice the size of Venture Global's present CP plant and have an export capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per year. Environmentalists argue that CP2 would undermine U.S. climate goals and release more greenhouse gases than other approved projects.

They have organized protests and are calling for a moratorium on approval of LNG projects to allow for a full climate assessment. On the other hand, business groups in Asia and Europe are pressuring the administration to approve LNG projects, citing the essential role of LNG in global energy security and the transition away from coal. They have expressed concerns about the U.S.'s commitment to keeping up supply, particularly in the wake of geopolitical events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration is reportedly considering a plan to add a stringent review process to LNG export permits, including criteria on how LNG affects climate change. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the timeline for this review process and whether new export licenses will be issued before the upcoming U.S. elections. As the debate intensifies, both environmentalists and business interests are vying for the administration's attention and decision-making on the future of the CP2 project.