~Says DOE's Standards for Reviewing LNG Export Applications "Appear to be in Flux"
In a major new development in the debate over LNG exports, America's Energy Advantage (AEA) today filed a formal motion to intervene in the Department of Energy's (DOE) proceeding for the Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (together "FLEX") export application (FE Docket No. 11-161-LNG). DOE is currently reviewing the application, which if authorized would raise the cumulative volume of authorized exports of LNG to 8.31 Bcf/d, which would go beyond the "low export scenario" level identified in a NERA report DOE used to grant three previous LNG export applications.
AEA
is seeking a more formal rulemaking process based on current data and
assessments of today's supply and demand environment, and noted that
current applications are being granted based on guidelines developed for
gas imports in the 1980s. AEA's motion also indicates that the legal
standards that DOE used to analyze the public interest in two previous
grant applications were not "adequate, appropriate, or sustainable."
See AEA's motion here: http://www.americasenergyadvantage.org/AEA-Comment.
"DOE
is making decisions that will have far-reaching and potentially
irreversible impacts on consumers, our economy, and America's
manufacturing renewal based on 30-year-old guidelines for natural gas
imports, not exports. No matter where one stands on this issue, surely
we can agree that exports and imports are different, and that DOE needs
to make rules based on the 21st century, not the 1980s," said Jennifer Diggins, Director, Public Affairs for Nucor Corporation and Chair of AEA.
"We
felt the need to file a formal motion because American consumers of
natural gas deserve as much say in the process as producers," said
Diggins. "All we're saying is that the public interest test is
important, and that DOE needs to take a more methodical and
legally-based approach to defining what that public interest is. DOE
itself conceded that 'the market of the future very likely will not
resemble the market of today' in its previous grant applications, but
what data are they using to project that future? Nobody knows."
Diggins
concluded: "As a result of available and affordable natural gas in the
U.S., more than 120 manufacturing projects valued at nearly $110 billion
of economic investment have been announced, including thousands of new
jobs. Our country cannot afford to lose these job-creating investments
or hurt consumers by driving up the cost of utility bills. We have a
right to be heard in this debate."
AEA
submitted today's motion following DOE's failure in recently issued
export authorizations to apply reasonable standards for assessing the
public interest as required by the NGA. As AEA stressed in its motion:
"It is not enough for DOE to summarily refer to the public interest,
vaguely acknowledge that conditions may change, and imply that these
changed conditions could possibly affect pending and future proceedings
or retroactively affect previously granted authorizations. The
development of an LNG export industry in the United States
has widespread consequences affecting all segments of the American
public interest, including the economy, the environment, public policy,
international relations and the quality of life for American citizens."
America's
Energy Advantage, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) not for profit organization that
is dedicated to educating the American public about the growth in
American manufacturing that has been made possible by our country's
abundant and affordable supply of natural gas.
Post to be found at:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-energy-advantage-files-lng-export-motion-seeks-rulemaking-on-public-interest-test-224297201.html
No comments:
Post a Comment