Issues

Principal Public Policy Issues of Concern
to The USLNG Association.

As described on the About Us page, the USLNG Association (LNG Allies) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association. Two of our three core activities are these:

  1. Promote effective public policy and communicate the domestic and global benefits of USLNG exports.
  2. Conduct and sponsor research and policy analysis; organize workshops, conferences, and issue briefings; and provide information about USLNG exports.

This page is an index of the current issues of greatest concern to our members.

Quick Links to In-Depth Pages:

The Pause. On 26 Jan. 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the White House announced a formal “pause” (moratorium) on the issuance of new LNG licenses to projects requesting authorization to export U.S. natural gas to non-Free Trade Agreement (non-FTA) nations. The pause was a continuation of the informal moratorium on USLNG export authorizations in place during two of the first three years of the Biden administration. Sixteen states brought suit in federal district court to reverse the pause, and on 01 July 2024, the court issued a temporary injunction invalidating the formal moratorium. However, DOE still refuses to act upon the USLNG applications that are ripe for decision. Learn More: The Pause

The Studies. Under Sec. 3 of the Natural Gas Act, companies wishing to export U.S. natural gas must first obtain a license from the Sec. of Energy. The law requires DOE to approve such export requests unless the Secretary determines that to do so would be “inconsistent with the public interest.” To help inform these public interest reviews, DOE has conducted several economic and greenhouse gas studies beginning in 2012.

EU Methane Regulations. On 15 Nov. 2023, the EU Parliament and Council reached agreement on a new EU regulation to reduce energy sector methane emissions in Europe and global supply chains. One provision of the regulation is of particular interest to the USLNG industry: “As of Jan. 2027, the regulation requires that new import contracts for oil, gas and coal can be only concluded if the same monitoring, reporting, and verification obligations are applied by exporters as for EU producers. The regulation will set out a methane intensity methodology and maximum levels to be met for new contracts for oil, gas and coal.”