The US Department of Energy announced conditional approval yeserday for 2 billion cubic feet per day of LNG exports from a proposed export project in Lake Charles, Louisiana to countries with which the US does not have a free trade agreement. This marks the third project obtain non-FTA export approval thus far.
Proponents of unfettered LNG exports argue that they will bring about a range of economic and geopolitical benefits for the US. Opponents of various stripes object on the grounds that large volumes of exports could drive up domestic natural gas prices and/or spur more gas drilling – and hydraulic fracturing – potentially causing environmental damage.
Jason Bordoff, Director of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy:
“The U.S Department of Energy made the right move by approving another application to export natural gas from the U.S. as there are many economic and geopolitical benefits.”
“The Administration has demonstrated its commitment to increasing natural gas exports while also ensuring that each permit application receives careful scrutiny to assess the cumulative impact of each approval on future permit applications.”
Center for Liquefied Natural Gas President Bill Cooper:
“The approval order for Lake Charles Exports is a welcome announcement. However, this is one approval, and there are 19 more applications awaiting DOE action.”
“It is time for DOE to follow its rules and act quickly on the pending applications. This opportunity to grow American exports will not last forever.”
Erik Milito, API Director of Upstream and Industry Operations
“The Lake Charles permit is a welcome signal that Energy Secretary Moniz recognizes the importance of LNG exports to economic growth, but there are still thousands of jobs and billions in investments waiting on the sidelines for federal approval.”
“The law presumes that all exports are in the public interest, and the DOE has every reason to expedite approvals.”
National Association of Manufacturers Vice-President of Energy and Resources Policy Ross Eisenberg:
“Manufacturers are pleased to see the DOE grant authorization today to export LNG from the Lake Charles terminal in Louisiana. However, 19 applications remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo at the agency.
“At the DOE’s current pace, these projects could be waiting several years before their applications are even considered. The DOE needs to be more nimble and work through these applications more quickly to give businesses greater certainty.”
Deb Nardone, Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Natural Gas Campaign
“It is deeply disappointing to see that Secretary Moniz persists in leading the nation and the world to into a dirty energy future.”
“The economic study the DOE itself commissioned clearly states that LNG export will transfer wealth from wage earners to fossil fuel executives. LNG export is nothing but a giveaway to the dirty fuel industry, at the expense of every day Americans.”
“Exporting LNG to foreign buyers will lock us into decades-long contracts, which in turn will lead to more drilling — and that means more fracking, more air and water pollution, and more climate fueled weather disasters like record fires, droughts, and superstorms like last year’s Sandy.”
“Once environmental impacts are evaluated, it becomes clear that the additional fracking and gas production exports would induce is unacceptable.”
America’s Energy Advantage: (comprised of these companies)
“The DOE’s decision to continue to consider additional exports on a sequential basis is a prudent approach that allows it to consider the cumulative impact of additional exports.”
“Each permit approval brings us closer to the point that would begin to harm the manufacturing renaissance.”
