America’s Energy Advantage (AEA) — a coalition that includes Dow Chemical, Huntsman, Celanese and others — sent a letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Thursday calling for an end to the recent string of LNG export permits. Thus far, the Department of Energy has approved LNG exports to non-free-trade-agreement countries for five different facilities and appears set to approve a sixth soon. Some manufacturers fear that a surge in natural gas exports would drive up prices and end the feedstock and energy cost advantages they enjoy due to abundant domestic supplies. The AEA contends the data the federal government is using to justify the export permits is obsolete and doesn’t reflect the current marketplace (it was published in 2011). It also noted in its letter that natural gas prices have jumped 30% since the first LNG export permit was granted.
Photo: Cameron LNG
