The Biden administration imposed a "pause" this past January on approvals for the construction of new liquid natural gas (LNG) export terminals.

This week saw the White House follow that move up with a report that critics say is rigged against the energy industry. 

Report cites concerns about climate change and consumer prices

According to Fox News, the report was released on Tuesday by the Department of Energy (DOE) and claims that boosting LNG exports could lead to a 1.5-gigaton increase in CO2 equivalent emissions.

What's more, the report also predicts that export growth could spike prices for American consumers in the near term by as much as 30%.

Yet energy insiders have told Fox News that the estimate is flawed because it does not consider the likelihood of energy users adopting relatively clean burning LNG instead of coal and other dirty energy sources.

They also contend that estimates of price increases are overblown and do not take into account the new jobs and economic growth which more exports would create.

National Association of Manufacturers says a million jobs are at risk

Jay Timmons serves as president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and he issued a statement slamming the report.

"Today’s report from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is clearly a politically motivated document designed for an audience who believes no form of carbon-based energy is acceptable," Fox News quoted him as saying.

"LNG exports play a crucial role in reducing emissions by providing cleaner energy alternatives to countries reliant on higher emission sources," Timmons added.

Fox News noted that for its part, NAM produced a study which concluded that nearly a million jobs would be at risk over the next 20 years if the LNG pause remains in effect.

American Gas Association head slams "grave error"

American Gas Association CEO and president Karen Harbert spoke up as well, saying the report is a "clear and inexplicable attempt to justify their grave policy error."

"America’s allies are suffering from the weaponization of natural gas and energy deprivation and any limitations on supplying life essential energy is absolutely wrong-headed," Harbert declared.

"The Biden Administration’s pause on American LNG exports was a mistake that resulted in uncertainty for the market, for investors, and for America’s allies around the world," she asserted.

Fox News observed last month that for his part, President-elect Donald Trump has consistently said he will repeal the LNG export pause and promote energy production more generally.