Secretary Pritzker Should Restrict Propane Exports to Meet Domestic Demand, Say Lawmakers
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker should use her authority under the Export Administration Act to temporarily restrict propane exports in order to boost domestic supply amid rising propane demand and costs, said Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep.…
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Peter Welch, D-Vt., in a Feb. 14 letter to Pritzker. New propane production over recent years is being shipped to more profitable foreign markets, instead of serving domestic demand, said the letter. “Average residential propane prices have jumped 60 percent in the past year, causing a significant strain on middle class and low-income families across the country,” said the lawmakers. “Demand for propane has risen significantly in recent months, driven by crop dying activities in the Midwest and the current cold weather gripping much of the country. However, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, propane production is at an all-time high and domestic production far exceeds domestic demand.”