February 24, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) CEO Anne Bradbury issued the following statement commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the first LNG export from the continental United States and the critical role independent producers play in making American natural gas the foundation of a more energy-secure world:
“Ten years ago, the first LNG export from the Lower 48 marked a historic turning point for American energy — a moment that helped transform the United States into a global energy superpower. Thanks to the ingenuity and investment of America’s leading independent producers, U.S. LNG has become a cornerstone of global energy security, powering homes and economies across Europe, Asia, and beyond. As we mark this milestone, AXPC remains focused on advancing policies that will expand the role of American-made natural gas in meeting the world’s growing demand for ever cleaner, reliable energy.”
BACKGROUND
Shale Transformed the U.S. From Import Dependence to Export Dominance
- The Pre-Shale Reality: The story of U.S. LNG exports is one of the most remarkable reversals in energy history. In the early 2000s, the United States was bracing for a future of growing natural gas scarcity. Conventional domestic production was in decline, and the country was investing billions of dollars in LNG import terminals along U.S. coastlines to receive foreign gas. Energy forecasters broadly predicted the U.S. would become increasingly dependent on imports for decades to come.
- American Innovation Flipped the Script: Independent producers pioneering horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unlocked vast quantities of natural gas trapped in shale formations across the country, surging past all prior production records. In a remarkable industrial pivot, import terminals built to receive foreign gas were retrofitted and reversed into export terminals to load American-produced LNG onto tankers bound for markets around the world.
- A Historic First: Sabine Pass in Louisiana shipped its inaugural export cargo on February 24, 2016 — transforming the U.S. from a nation of projected scarcity to a global energy superpower, made possible by the ingenuity of America’s independent producers.
LNG Exports Deliver Significant Benefits to Workers, Allies, and the Environment
- Economic Growth & Job Creation: U.S. LNG exports contribute substantially to the economy, with historical data showing an estimated $408 billion added to U.S. GDP from 2016 to 2024. Increased LNG production strengthens industrial growth and supports high-quality jobs in communities across the country.
- Energy Security & Global Stability: U.S. LNG is a reliable and geopolitically strategic energy source, particularly for U.S. allies such as those in Europe, who have increasingly turned to U.S. LNG to reduce dependence on Russian gas. U.S. LNG enhances global energy security without compromising domestic supply.
- Environmental Benefits: U.S. LNG displaces higher emission fuels globally, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining energy affordability. Advanced emissions reduction efforts by U.S. producers—including investments in methane mitigation and carbon capture—further strengthen LNG’s role as a lower-carbon energy source.
