DOE Requests Comment On 2018 LNG Export Study

Dianne R Phillips is a Partner in our Boston office.

On June 12, 2018, the Office of Fossil Energy of the Department of Energy (DOE) filed a Notice in the Federal Register seeking comments prior to July 27, 2018 on its recently released study, entitled Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports. As described in the notice, DOE wishes to consider the study in connection with the 25 pending applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (non-FTA countries).

Pursuant to Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 15 U.S.C. § 717b, DOE must evaluate whether such exports are in the public interest. In making that determination, DOE considers factors such as economic impacts, international impacts, security of natural gas supply and environmental impacts. DOE typically relies upon LNG export studies in making these determinations.