Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Speed Up Certain Gas Exports

Five Republican senators recently introduced a bill that would loosen restrictions on certain gas exports to countries that don’t have a free trade agreement with the U.S. The Natural Gas Export Expansion Act would “expedite” permits for exports of liquefied natural gas to non-FTA countries by treating those license reviews the same as shipments to FTA countries, the senators said March 25. LNG exports reached “all-time highs” in November and December, the lawmakers said, but the export permit review process for those shipments can sometimes take years, placing “onerous regulations” on the LNG industry.

The bill, introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, John Kennedy of Louisiana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, would “expand international markets” for gas exporters, Capito said in a statement. Kennedy said the U.S. should “make it easier, not harder, to export American LNG to countries that need it.” The bill wouldn’t change the export licensing process for countries subject to U.S. sanctions or other export restrictions.