Bringing the Boom

What to Know: Two Texas congressmen have introduced legislation to help speed up development of new natural gas export facilities.

“The U.S. has only two facilities along the coasts to export liquefied natural gas, or LNG, the chilled, liquid form that gas must be converted to for it to be shipped in giant tanker vessels across seas,” the Washington Examiner reports. “Another four are set to enter service by the end of 2019, and four more have earned regulatory approval. But more than a dozen are awaiting permitting approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a backlog that the panel is struggling to meet because of a manpower shortage, and other issues. It’s been three years since FERC approved a new LNG plant.”

The TPPF Take: The shale revolution and the cheap, cleaner-burning natural gas it has produced have led to a boom in prosperity in Texas and the U.S. The rest of the world should be able to enjoy the benefits, as well.

“The modern way of life is powered by inexpensive, reliable energy,” says TPPF’s Kathleen Hartnett White. “Americans have enjoyed the benefits – including longer, healthier lives – and with increased LNG exports, the rest of the world can share this prosperity, as well.”

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