Brookings Revises Policy Recommendations on U.S. LNG Exports

In may 2011, the Brookings Institution Energy Security Initiative (Esi) assembled a task Force of independent natural-gas experts, whose expertise and insights provided inform its research on various issues regarding the u.s. natural gas sector.

In may 2012, Brookings released its first report, analyzing the case and prospects for exports of liquefied natural gas from the United States. The task Force now continues to meet periodically to discuss important issues facing the sector. With input from the task Force, Brookings will release periodic issue briefs for policymakers.

In this natural gas briefing document, the second in a series of briefings by the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings (ESI) on developments in the natural gas market, the authors offer policy recommendations for the Department of Energy to reform the existing rules surrounding the LNG export approval process.

“Applications for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the U.S. are currently only denied if deemed not in the “public interest” by the Department of Energy. This vague definer has raised calls from both supporters and opponents of LNG exports for added clarity in the process. Good policies must offer greater certainty by reflecting the cost of constructing export facilities and be regularly updated to follow changes in the gas market,” report says.

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LNG World News Staff, August 23, 2013