• 07 Jan 2015

Two senators introduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday to speed up approvals to export liquefied natural gas.

The bill from Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) follows a series of unsuccessful attempts last year to set time limits on the Energy Department’s consideration of export applications.

The senators said their bill would create jobs domestically, reduce the country’s trade deficit and help U.S. allies’ energy security.

“Right now, LNG exports are being stalled by Washington red tape and permitting delays,” Barrasso said in a statement. “Our bipartisan bill fixes this by creating clear deadlines that force Washington to make timely decisions on these critical energy permits.”

Gas exports are severely restricted, and any shipments to countries without free-trade agreements with the U.S. require an Energy Department determination that the exports are within the national interest.

Source: The Hill