The Department of Energy authorized an American company on Monday to export liquefied natural gas to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the United States .
Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P., has been granted conditional approval to export up to 0.8 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas for 20 years from its terminal located in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) joined a group of lawmakers last fall in a letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz that called for approval of pending LNG export applications for facilities like the one in Coos Bay.
“Exporting our excess natural gas creates jobs, grows the economy and helps our allies lessen their dependence on politically volatile nations,” Gardner said. “This terminal will be particularly beneficial to Colorado, as it will serve as the primary point for natural gas from the state to be exported. This decision is a step in the right direction, but there is still work to be done….”
Gardner recently sponsored the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, which would streamline the approval process to export LNG to World Trade Organization Countries.
“While I am glad that the DoE finally approved the permit for Jordan Cove, there are still 23 other applications that are completed and have been waiting several years for approval,” Gardner said. “It’s time to get all the pending applications approved so that we can decrease conflicts around the world and get Americans back to work.”