Murkowski Calls for Lifting Crude Export Prohibition, Expediting LNG Export
The Obama Administration should lift the prohibition on U.S. exports of domestic crude oil and condensate, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), exports, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska., in a Jan. 7 keynote speech to the Brookings Institution Energy Security Initiative. The removal of the ban will send a signal to the that the U.S. is resolute in pursuing the role of a major global hydrocarbon producer, said Murkowski.
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“Opponents of trade will be quick to assert, too often without citing any evidence, that exports of crude oil will raise gasoline prices for American consumers. This claim is wrong, but it must be dealt with immediately and it must be dealt with head on,” said Murkowski. “I have said repeatedly -- and I mean it -- that the goal must be to make energy more affordable. If we want to bring down gasoline prices, then we should be opening up federal lands to energy production, not close them off.” In the absence of administration action, Murkowski pledged to introduce piecemeal legislation to “modernize” U.S. energy policy.
“The Department of Energy’s slow-walking of LNG export licenses is another area that I think is worthy of examining,” said Murkowski. “Secretary Moniz appears to have quickened the pace of approvals, the queue is quite full. Licenses still take far too long to review.” Murkowski also released a white paper titled A Signal to the World: Renovating the Architecture of U.S. Energy Exports, which she described as a comprehensive insight into U.S. energy potential (here).