Cassidy bill would codify DOE proposal to speed small-scale liquefied natural gas exports

Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Wednesday would codify a rule proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) to expedite approvals for small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, benefiting U.S. jobs.

The DOE proposed a rule in September that would expedite approvals of LNG from U.S. export facilities primarily to markets in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Increasing those exports would boost the U.S. economy while also helping the economies of those countries receiving the U.S. natural gas, said Cassidy and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who also proposed the bill.

“This bill promotes the growth of American natural gas, creating well-paying jobs with good benefits for hardworking families in Louisiana,” Cassidy said. “The faster approval of small-scale natural gas shipments will create American jobs, improve Caribbean energy security and lower greenhouse gas emissions.”

Under the bill, exports of natural gas totaling 51.1 billion cubic feet per year or less would be considered in the public interest and approved without delay.

With an estimated 2,355 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, the United States has reserves to meet current consumption demands for the next 86 years, the Energy Information Administration reports.

“In addition to the economic advantages for Florida, this measure would bolster our existing ties with Caribbean and Latin American nations while ensuring that bad actors in the region, including Cuba and Venezuela, do not reap its benefits,” Rubio said.