Udall, Landrieu Introduce Updated Legislation to Speed Timeline on Administration's Review of Liquefied Natural Gas Export Facilities
Bill Cuts Red Tape While Still Giving Energy Department Sufficient Time to Consider National Security, Environmental Impacts
Mark Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced legislation later Wednesday — co-sponsored by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Mary Landrieu (D-La.) — to speed U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and to account for the U.S. Department of Energy's recently streamlined review process. Udall's bill, which builds on his long record of championing Colorado's leadership in energy development, would require the U.S. Department of Energy to make a decision on pending liquefied natural gas export facilities within 45 days of the completion of environmental analysis. This update is designed to complement and build on new changes to the review process announced by the Department of Energy in late May.
"Colorado's natural gas has an important role to play in creating jobs and promoting global stability. By speeding up the U.S. Department of Energy's review of pending liquefied natural gas export facilities, my bill would cut red tape and complement the agency's newly announced review process," Udall said. "My legislation also provides the Department of Energy with a common-sense amount of time to consider the environmental and national security implications of each application without unnecessarily delaying the process. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Department of Energy to ensure we do not lose momentum on responsibly leveraging our vast natural gas resources."
The Natural Gas Export Promotion Act of 2014 would:
- Require the Department of Energy to make a final decision on whether an application to export liquefied natural gas is in the national interest within 45 days of the National Environmental Policy Act review being finalized.
- Allows for expedited judicial review if the Department of Energy does not make a decision within 45 days.
- Require the Department of Energy to report to the public the countries to which the liquefied natural gas will be exported.
Udall is a strong supporter of responsibly developing Colorado's clean-burning and job-creating natural gas resources. Udall successfully led a coalition of other senators in pressing the administration to break the logjam of pending export applications, which mirrors the goal of bills Udall has introduced in the Senate. He recently called on the U.S. Energy Department to approve pending liquefied natural gas terminals just as the agency did for one facility in Oregon. Udall also has supported the Grand Junction Economic Partnership's effort to study the effect liquefied natural gas exports could have on the Western Slope's economy.