US Congressional Republicans reintroduce LNG export reform bill

April 11, 2019
US Congressional Republicans reintroduced legislation aimed at simplifying and streamlining the federal process for authorizing exports of LNG on Apr. 10. The Senate measure, which Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) sponsored with John N. Kennedy (La.) and Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) as cosponsors, would terminate existing prohibitions on both exports and imports of gas. As would the bill Rep. Clay Higgins (La.) introduced in the House.

US Congressional Republicans reintroduced legislation aimed at simplifying and streamlining the federal process for authorizing exports of LNG on Apr. 10. The Senate measure, which Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) sponsored with John N. Kennedy (La.) and Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) as cosponsors, would terminate existing prohibitions on both exports and imports of gas. As would the bill Rep. Clay Higgins (La.) introduced in the House.

Sponsors said the bills would give the US a better opportunity to help meet an anticipated 4-5% growth in global LNG demand. The administration also would retain the ability to limit gas importation and exportation levels during emergencies, disasters, or exchanges with certain foreign nations, they said.

They said the bills also would:

• Remove decades-old restrictions on the export and import of gas which have stalled development of previous projects.

• Guarantee acceptance of export volume applications to the US Department of Energy for export and import of gas without delay.

• Retain DOE’s management and record-keeping responsibilities.

• Potentially reduce foreign countries’ carbon dioxide emissions by replacing higher-emitting energy sources with gas.

• Retain the administration’s ability to gas exports to or imports from countries unfriendly to the US.

• Require the Department of Energy secretary to report to Congress on actions the government could take to increase gas exports.

• Require the DOE secretary to identify current regulations that inhibit gas market growth and submit the findings to Congress.

• Keep the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s LNG proposed export facility evaluation process intact.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].