Building Momentum for LNG Exports

The Associated Press has this look at momentum for exporting U.S. natural gas, driven by an abundance of natural gas from shale via hydraulic fracturing. Bill Cooper, president of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, tells AP:

“LNG exports are a huge opportunity for the United States economy, our workers and our geopolitical relationships with countries such as Japan that are seeking to import natural gas. LNG exports will create jobs, increase government revenue and benefit consumers.”

Cooper is right. Studies – like this one for the Energy Department and this one by ICF International – show how America’s wealth in natural gas from shale could support demand here and overseas, to America’s benefit in terms of job and economic growth.

Currently, the Energy Department is reviewing federal permit applications for 20 U.S. LNG export projects. One of those is for Dominion’s Cove Point (Md.) facility – an LNG import terminal that would undergo an expansion to add liquefaction capability for exporting purposes, costing between $3.4 billion and $3.8 billion. The project would create up to 4,000 jobs during construction, support more than 14,000 jobs once operational and generate an estimated $1 billion a year in additional revenue to federal, state and local governments. A photo gallery from my recent visit to Cove Point.