By TONI ELLINGTON
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony last week on a bill which would streamline the liquid natural gas export permitting process for exports to countries without free trade agreements with the United States. The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, and Senator Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, and is known as the Barrasso-Heinrich LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act (S. 33).
The proposed bill provides a timeline for the Department of Energy to approve permits. The bill would require the Secretary of Energy to make a final decision on an export application within 45 days after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission completes the environmental review process. It would also provide for an expedited judicial review process and would require exporters to publicly disclose the countries to which liquid natural gas is being exported.
Supporters say that approving the bill would give foreign investors assurances of the supply of liquid natural gas. Opponents say the bill could cause spikes in the domestic market.
The proposed bill has caused a split among energy industry groups over its potential impact, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Petroleum Industry sending letters of support prior to the Senate hearing. A parallel bill was passed by the House of Representatives on January 28, 2015.
For updates, stay tuned to this blog, or contact Toni Ellington at (504) 599-8500.
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