CLNG urges harmonization of LNG exports expediting bills

The United States Senate recently appointed members to a conference committee with the House of Representatives to coordinate two energy bills containing provision that would expedite the regulatory approval process for LNG export applications. 

Senators, Lisa Murkowski, John Barrasso, James Risch, John Cornyn, Maria Cantwell, Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders are all Senate conferees.

Commenting on the Senate action, Charlie Riedl executive director at the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) urged the members of the conference committee to ensure that the final bill contains provisions that expedite the review of LNG export applications.

“Both chambers have previously passed legislation with bipartisan support that would establish a defined window of time for the Department of Energy (DOE) to act on export applications to non-free trade agreement countries once National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is complete,” Riedl said.

The provision would establish regulatory certainty critical for developers seeking to develop liquefied natural gas projects, concluded Riedl.