Lawmakers Urge U.S. DOE to Support West Coast LNG Export Facilities

U.S. Senator John Barrasso and 11 other lawmakers from Wyoming, Utah and Colorado called on the Department of Energy to support liquefied natural gas export facilities on the west coast and allow Rocky Mountain natural gas to reach international markets.

In a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Secretary of Energy, the lawmakers expressed support for the proposed LNG export facility at Jordan Cove in southwest Oregon. Jordan Cove would allow natural gas from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and Indian Tribes, such as the Ute Indian Tribe on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, to be exported to Asia. Last month, the Ute Indian Tribe sent the Secretary a similar letter in support of Jordan Cove.

The lawmakers specifically urged the Secretary to quickly review and act on Jordan Cove’s application to export LNG to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. To date, DOE has approved applications to export LNG to non-FTA countries from three proposed facilities on the Gulf coast and one facility on the east coast. DOE has yet to approve LNG exports to non-FTA countries from facilities on the west coast.

“Facilities, such as Jordan Cove, are essential to ensuring that Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes have greater access to international markets and thus the opportunity to enjoy the economic benefits of LNG exports,” wrote the lawmakers. “Access to international markets is critical to ensuring that companies have the incentive to produce natural gas in the future. The Department’s approvals of LNG exports from east coast and Gulf coast facilities will encourage future natural gas production in eastern and Gulf coast communities. We believe the Department should provide the people of the Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity.”

The following members of the Senate signed onto the letter: Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

The following members of the House of Representatives, led by Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), signed onto the letter: Representatives Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Doug Lamborn (R-CO).

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LNG World News Staff, November 13, 2013