U.S. Senate Natural Gas Forum Reaffirms LNG Exports Positive for Economy

In response to second forum on natural gas by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee entitled “Domestic Supply and Exports,” Bill Cooper, president of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas issued the following statement:

“Today’s forum underscores what countless third-party studies, energy experts and economists have found: LNG exports will be a win-win for our economy, create jobs and enhance our geopolitical relationships by supplying much-needed energy resources to our trading partners. Thanks to an abundance of natural gas, we are uniquely positioned to both meet domestic demand and sell some abroad, but this opportunity won’t last forever. With a thorough review complete and a robust regulatory process in place, it is time for the U.S. Department of Energy to move forward with the swift approval of pending LNG export projects.”

Today’s panel of witnesses reflected diverse expertise with the presence of the Brookings Institution, Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, American Chemistry Council, ICF International, Sempra Energy and Cheniere Energy Inc., all of whom recognized that the United States should seize the opportunity exporting LNG represents and the widespread benefits it would bring to our economy.

Charles Ebinger, Brookings Institution: “Even if the volumes exported from the United States aren’t large, there is an ideological geopolitical benefit to U.S. LNG exports. Exports will provide certainty to allies and economic partners around the world that the United States is a steadfast advocate for free trade.”

John Mohlis, The Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council: “I believe North American natural gas will be exported. The question is whether it will be exported via the U.S. West Coast or British Columbia. I would rather see the United States, and Oregon benefit from this trade by building the Jordan Cove terminal.”

Cal Dooley, American Chemistry Council: “We support exports of American-made products, including Liquefied Natural Gas, and we oppose imposition of any new LNG export bans or restrictions.”

Harry Vidas, ICF International: “The net effects on U.S. employment from LNG exports are projected to be positive with average net job growth of 73,100 to 452,300 between 2016 and 2035, including 1,700-11,400 net job gains in the specific manufacturing sectors that include refining, petrochemicals, and chemicals.”

Octavio Simoes, Sempra Energy: “The United States has the chance to exert global leadership as the world’s top producer of natural gas and must not squander the opportunity to capture the net economic benefits of LNG exports to the economy.”

Pat Outtrim, Cheniere Energy, Inc.: “It is clear that our ability to produce natural gas is far outpacing our capacity to use it. Natural gas liquefaction is one among many industrial applications planned to utilize our abundant resources, including other uses such as electricity generation and transportation.”

In addition, witnesses from the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Energy Policy Forum and Industrial Energy Consumers of America participated in today’s forum.

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LNG World News Staff, May 22, 2013