WASHINGTON – The American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC) released a new LNG export policy agenda today, outlining policies to unleash US LNG to meet our country’s energy, security, and environmental goals.
“The world is in the midst of a global energy crisis, and the need for clean, affordable, and responsibly sourced energy has never been more clear. Unfortunately, America’s natural gas industry faces headwinds in the form of unnecessary legal, regulatory, and political barriers that, if left unaddressed, could inhibit its expansion. We are recommending a series of practical, nonpartisan policies aimed at expanding more US LNG exports to lower emissions, create jobs, and strengthen energy security for the US and our allies. If enacted, these policies would help the US maintain a consistent place as the world’s top LNG exporter for many years to come – thereby supporting a safer, more sustainable global energy supply,” said AXPC CEO Anne Bradbury.
“Despite Biden’s war on fossil fuels, the US natural gas industry continues to provide affordable, reliable, and clean energy. Texas is squarely in a position to lead the nation in LNG exports, bolstering energy security for the US and our allies. As Russia delivers punishing blow to Europe by cutting off their gas supply, it is imperative that Congress reduces the unnecessary red tape that restricts us from maximizing American energy. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus, I am proud to support the American Exploration and Production Council’s LNG framework, which will strengthen our economy, help support our allies, and restore America’s energy dominance,” said Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus.
“In the face of an energy crisis, the United States has an opportunity and responsibility to enact practical, nonpartisan policies which expand energy resource availability for the global market. These policies are not only an energy security issue, but an economic opportunity to create good-paying jobs at home,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus. “These new proposals are the best step forward to a sustainable, realistic global energy market whereby the United States is a global supplier and leader in the field. I look forward to working with our allies to continue creating jobs for South Texans and Americans across the country.”
“The US has always stood up and met the challenges of the world and currently, the world is experiencing an energy crisis and a fast-approaching winter. The United States needs to again step up and increase LNG exports to help our allies prepare for a cold winter, while simultaneously tackling the climate crisis. We have a chance to use our abundant natural resources to lead us to a better, more sustainable future – all the while growing American jobs,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Founder and Chairman of the Oil and Gas Caucus and Member of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus.
“As the United States and countries around the world face an unprecedented energy crisis, practical solutions are needed to expand domestic production and international exports of American natural gas. Unnecessary red tape has stifled domestic energy production and caused America to rely on foreign sources of gas and oil. This is unjustifiable given that the U.S. was fully energy independent just a few years ago. Expanding American production and exports will create jobs here at home, ensure our electrical grid is reliable, make our allies more secure, and lower global carbon emissions. The AXPC LNG Export agenda contains commonsense next steps to unleash U.S. LNG and restore our energy independence and security,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus.
“LNG allies, the US LNG Association, is pleased to continue to partner with AXPC to grow US LNG exports. The recommendations that have been developed – especially those pertaining to expediting federal permitting – are vital to achieve that objective. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to advance these policy recommendations,” said President and CEO of LNG Allies Fred Hutchison.
“The global importance of American natural gas is more apparent now than ever, but the continued and much-needed expansion of US LNG export capacity hinges on smart, consistent, and predictable policies here at home. The recommendations outlined in this report represent a holistic and commonsense approach to ensuring the United States can support the energy security and climate goals of our allies around the world by remaining the global leader in LNG,” said API Vice President of Natural Gas Markets Dustin Meyer.
AXPC, in concert with its partners, identified policies, domestically and internationally, that needlessly restrict the industry’s potential and provides specific policy recommendations:
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- International Finance: US LNG export projects strengthen the US security posture – and by extension, countries that import US LNG are more able to resist the influence of hostile third-party actors. The Biden Administration should rescind all artificial restrictions and conflicting statements of policy on overseas natural gas projects, ensure US LNG plays a central role in globally achieving a low-carbon future, and definitively declare that US LNG exports provide compelling national security benefits.
- Environmental Permitting Reform: LNG exports need a functioning permitting system that ensures that midstream infrastructure can be planned, built, and operated with a reasonable degree of speed and certainty. To benefit all types of energy development, improve supply, and alleviate a global energy crisis, Congress and agencies should include common-sense amendments to permitting statutes and implementing regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Natural Gas Act, the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
- Sections 3 of the Natural Gas Act: To make sure that US industry can supply our allies with clean, abundant natural gas, permitting programs for LNG exports and export terminals should be optimized. Congress should amend Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act to ensure that the US Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provide fair and equal access for all LNG export authorizations, avoid unnecessary delays, and provide transparent and reliable rules of the road.
- Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act: Interstate pipelines provide the safest, most affordable, and cleanest way to transport natural gas both domestically and to export facilities. In order to provide greater certainty to LNG export investors and developers, FERC discretion should be constrained in how and when it decides to issue certificates under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act by requiring that FERC follow its 1999 Certificate Policy Statement governing approvals for natural gas infrastructure and prevent the agency from implementing the changes it proposed to that statement in March 2022. Certainty can also be provided to existing natural gas pipelines by ensuring that FERC cannot reopen granted certifications.
AXPC’s LNG Export Agenda can be found here.
About the American Exploration and Production Council:
AXPC is a national trade association representing the largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States. We lead the world in the cleanest and safest onshore production of oil and gas, while supporting millions of Americans in high-paying jobs and investing a wealth of resources in our communities. Learn more at https://axpc.org/