Katerina Swanson
In May 2019, the Trump administration's Department of Energy (DOE) came under scrutiny for referring to fossil fuels as freedom gas and molecules of freedom. The terms were used in a press release by DOE officials, including Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg and US Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes, to announce the expansion of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Texas. The release stated that increasing export capacity is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world, providing America's allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy. The unusual terminology sparked a range of reactions, from jokes and ridicule to criticism from politicians and scientists concerned about climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Department | Energy |
| Country | United States |
| Fossil Fuels Referred To As | Freedom Gas, Molecules of Freedom, Molecules of U.S. Freedom |
| Press Release Topic | Expansion of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at the Freeport facility on Quintana Island, Texas |
| Press Release Date | May 29, 2019 |
| Speakers | DOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg, US Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes |
| Quotes | "Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America's allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy." |
| Criticism | Widespread, including from Governor of Washington Jay Inslee |
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What You'll Learn
The Trump Administration's role in the rebranding of fossil fuels
In 2019, the Trump administration was responsible for rebranding fossil fuels as "molecules of freedom" and "freedom gas". This was revealed by E&E News legal editor Ellen M. Gilmer, who came across the new terminology in a press release from the Department of Energy. The press release was regarding the expansion of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at the Freeport facility on Quintana Island, Texas.
In the press release, DOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg stated:
> With the US in another year of record-setting natural gas production, I am pleased that the Department of Energy is doing what it can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of US freedom to be exported to the world.
US Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes also commented:
> Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America's allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy.
The language used by the Trump administration was met with widespread criticism. Jay Inslee, the Governor of Washington running for the Democratic presidential nomination with an emphasis on climate change, took to Twitter to express his disbelief, stating: "I invite @SecretaryPerry and the Department of @Energy to come to Washington state to see our freedom panels and our freedom turbines."
The term "freedom gas" may have originated during a visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry to the European Union in April. Perry has been known for his support of natural gas consumption and freedom, stating:
> Seventy-five years after liberating Europe from Nazi Germany occupation, the United States is again delivering a form of freedom to the European continent. And rather than in the form of young American soldiers, it’s in the form of liquefied natural gas.
The Trump administration's efforts to rebrand fossil fuels as "freedom gas" and "molecules of freedom" are indicative of a broader push to promote the use of fossil fuels and hinder progress towards addressing climate change. This includes pausing federal carbon management funds, attempting to block funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, promoting the extraction of fossil fuels, and pressuring other countries to burn more fossil fuels.
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The Department of Energy's press release
The Department of Energy is pleased to announce that we are doing what we can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of U.S. freedom to be exported to the world. With the U.S. in another year of record-setting natural gas production, we are proud to announce the expansion of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at the Freeport facility on Quintana Island, Texas. This expansion will increase our export capacity, allowing us to spread freedom gas throughout the world and give America's allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy.
Freedom gas is a natural mix of gases, including ethane, methane, propane, and butane. It is the cheap stuff that is mostly suitable for heating and cooking. By approving the Houston-based company Freeport LNG to export liquefied natural gas, we are committed to spreading freedom gas and freedom gas accessories worldwide. This is critical to our national security and energy independence, ensuring we are not dependent on Russian gas or other adversarial nations.
Some may find the term "freedom gas" amusing or confusing, but we assure you that it is an appropriate and patriotic term for our natural resources. As Energy Secretary Rick Perry stated during a visit to the European Union in April, "Seventy-five years after liberating Europe from Nazi Germany occupation, the United States is again delivering a form of freedom to the European continent. And rather than in the form of young American soldiers, it's in the form of liquefied natural gas."
We invite anyone who doubts the seriousness of our efforts to come and see our freedom panels and freedom turbines in action. The Department of Energy is dedicated to promoting energy infrastructure and streamlining federal reviews of border-crossing pipelines and other infrastructure. We stand by our choice to brand fossil fuels as "freedom gas" and "molecules of U.S. freedom," and we are proud to support the Trump administration's commitment to energy dominance and independence.
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The Freeport LNG project
The project has been approved by the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its commitment to promoting clean energy, job creation, and economic growth. The expansion is expected to support up to 3,000 engineering and construction jobs, along with hundreds of indirect jobs. The DOE has referred to natural gas as "freedom gas" or "molecules of US freedom," emphasizing the idea of energy independence and presenting LNG as a source of clean energy for America's allies.
The LNG produced at the Freeport LNG facility will be exported to global markets, particularly targeting America's allies to provide them with a diverse and affordable energy source. This strategy is part of the Trump administration's efforts to promote energy infrastructure and streamline the transport of natural gas. The project has been positioned as a way to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on energy sources from other nations, such as Russia.
Overall, the Freeport LNG project represents a significant expansion of LNG export capacity in the United States, with potential implications for the global energy market and environmental impact. The use of terms like "freedom gas" by the Department of Energy has sparked debates and drawn attention to the complexities surrounding energy policy and the transition to cleaner energy sources.
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The US's energy independence
In 2019, the Trump administration's Department of Energy (DOE) caused a stir by rebranding fossil fuels as "freedom gas" and carbon dioxide as "molecules of freedom". This move was met with widespread criticism and ridicule, with many pointing out the irony of referring to fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change, as a form of "freedom".
Despite the backlash, the DOE's choice of words highlights the importance of energy independence to the US. Energy independence, or reducing reliance on energy imports from other countries, has long been a goal of the US government. Since the 1950s, the US has mostly met its energy needs through imports, particularly crude oil and petroleum products. However, in recent years, increases in domestic crude oil and natural gas production have reduced the country's dependence on energy imports.
The US has also taken steps towards achieving energy independence through renewable energy sources. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by President Bush, aimed to move the country towards greater energy independence and security. This Act introduced provisions such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and appliance/lighting efficiency standards. More recently, the Department of Energy has been working to accelerate the growth of renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and increase energy storage capacity.
Energy independence has been touted as beneficial for the US economy and security. By producing and exporting energy, the US can reduce its dependence on other countries, including those with conflicting interests or human rights concerns, for its energy supply. Additionally, the development of renewable energy sources can provide a cleaner and more affordable energy alternative for both the US and its allies.
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Reactions to the rebranding
The rebranding of natural gas as freedom gas and molecules of freedom by the US Department of Energy was met with ridicule and criticism. Many Twitter users poked fun at the nicknames, comparing them to farts and freedom fries. Some users also drew parallels with Orwellian newspeak, with one user noting the historical precedent of cigarettes being marketed as "torches of freedom" in the 1920s.
The Washington governor and presidential candidate Jay Inslee criticized the rebranding, calling it a joke and drawing attention to the Trump administration's stance on climate change. The new terminology was also seen as a potential ideological weapon to stigmatize anti-extraction protesters as "anti-American" or even "terrorists".
Some commentators pointed out the irony of the US exporting "freedom gas" while simultaneously providing weapons and intelligence support to Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of torturing and decapitating women and homosexuals and committing genocide in Yemen.
The rebranding was also criticized for its attempt to equate fossil fuels with American freedom and independence, with some arguing that it downplayed the negative environmental impact of the industry. This criticism was particularly acute given the Trump administration's broad deregulatory agenda, which included rolling back auto fuel efficiency standards.
Overall, the reaction to the rebranding was largely negative, with a mix of jokes, outrage, and concern about the potential consequences of such inflammatory language.
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Frequently asked questions
Freedom gas is a term used by the US Department of Energy to refer to natural gas.
The US Department of Energy claims that the use of the term "freedom gas" is to highlight the country's energy independence and promote an efficient regulatory system.
The term "freedom gas" has been criticized for being misleading and inappropriate, with some people making jokes about the terminology.
The use of the term "freedom gas" by the US Department of Energy has been seen as an attempt to assign patriotic intentions to natural gas and promote the export of American natural gas to other countries.
