Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power on Thursday in a hearing that touched on the approval process for liquefied natural gas exports.
Global energy security interests will be discussed at an upcoming G7 meeting. Moniz said those discussions could influence the DoE’s position on whether or not to reform the LNG export approval process.
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power Member Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) said increasing energy development and allowing LNG exports would lead to more jobs in the United States.
“The G7 shouldn’t be able to dictate job creation in the U.S.,” Gardner said.
Gardner recently introduced the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, which would grant approval of pending LNG export applications and implement changes to expedite the export approval process to World Trade Organization member countries.
Subcommittee Member Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also pressed Moniz on the approval process for offshore LNG export facilities.
“We need the Department of Energy to be responsive to a six-month old request on a review process for offshore deep-water port facilities,” Cassidy said. “If this was done, we’d have more construction, mining and maritime jobs with good benefits and wages for Americans who need jobs.”
Cassidy also questioned why the DoE has been unresponsive to a Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s request that a separate and simultaneous review process be used for offshore deep-water port facilities.