In response to yesterday’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on S. 33, the “LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act,” Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) President Bill Cooper issued the following statement:
“ Today’s hearing emphasizes the wide consensus among energy experts, economists and policymakers: Liquefied natural gas exports will be an economic boon to the U.S., creating jobs and investment while enhancing our trading partnerships. Thanks to our abundance of natural gas supplies, the U.S. is uniquely positioned to both meet domestic demand and still bring real wealth back into this country by selling a small percentage of our surplus natural gas to our friends and allies abroad. CLNG applauds today’s hearing participants for urging strong bipartisan legislative action to move these projects forward so that all Americans can experience the clear benefits provided by LNG exports .”
Originally cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso and Martin Heinrich, S. 33 enjoys bipartisan support. The bill will expedite the approval process for LNG exports to countries with whom the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement, by requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to issue a final decision no later than 45 days after the close of a project’s National Environmental Policy Act review.
In a question and answer session with Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, Assistant Secretary for DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy Chris Smith stated:
“ Certainly if this legislation is passed as is currently written, the department will be able to accomplish the mission, we will as always accomplish the letter and the spirit of the law, and we believe this is a solution we will be able to comply with. ”
Image: CLNG