House Subcommittee Holds Natural Gas Forum

On October 10, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a forum to discuss expanding U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.  Diplomats and energy advisers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Haiti, India, Lithuania, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Puerto Rico attended the forum, which was entitled "The Geopolitical Implications and Mutual Benefits of U.S. LNG exports."  Currently, the Department of Energy has approved four licenses to export natural gas to Europe and Asia, and twenty-one applications for export licenses await DOE consideration.  At the forum, the foreign representatives urged the U.S. to approve LNG export projects because their countries are eager to utilize America's natural gas resources.  The full Committee Chairman, Fred Upton, stated that the forum was an "opportunity to better explore how moving forward with American energy exports can help strengthen our ties with foreign nations while at the same time providing mutual benefits domestically."  

The Press Release is available at: http://energycommerce.house.gov/press-release/members-and-foreign-diplomats-discuss-mutual-benefits-us-lng-exports

Written by: Tom Panighetti

October 15, 2013

US House of Representatives passes Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2013

On August 1, 2013, the US House of Representatives passed the Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2013, which would prohibit the EPA from promulgating rules that have an estimated cost of over $1 billion. If passed in the Senate, the bill would require the EPA to provide cost/benefit reports to Congress for prospective energy regulations. Additionally, the EPA would be required to preserve the statistical data used to estimate the costs and benefits of proposed rules for Congressional review. The Secretary of Energy, FERC and the EIA would also be required to independently create, and submit to Congress, an “Initial Determination on Increases and Impacts” for each rule proposed by the EPA. If in the initial determination it is found that an increase/impact will occur, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the EPA, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall determine if the rule will adversely affect the economy and public that determination in the federal register.

For more information on HR 1582, visit GovTrack.

Written by: Garrett Lent, Research Assistant

Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

August 2013