APGA files LNG intervening motion

On 14 April 2014, the American Public Gas Association (APGA) filed a motion to intervene in an application filed by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to export approximately 314 billion ft³/year of LNG to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The total LNG export capacity applied for to date is 38.51 billion ft³/day and 35.86 billion ft³/day to FTA and non-FTA nations, respectively.

When an application is filed in cases where the application is specific to countries that the US has a free trade agreement with the application is deemed to be consistent with the public interest and granted without modification or delay. In cases where an application is seeking exportation of LNG to countries that the US does not have FTAs with, the burden is on those opposed to the application to demonstrate that the application is not consistent with the public interest.

"Contrary to public interest"

In its filing, APGA stated that the export application is inconsistent with the public interest and should be denied, arguing that exports will “increase domestic natural gas prices, burdening households and jeopardising potential growth in the US manufacturing sector, as well as the nation’s transition away from more environmentally damaging fossil fuels.” The filing also expresses concern that if this and other LNG export applications were to be approved, “the resulting increase in natural gas prices would undermine recent investments to expand natural gas as a transportation fuel.”

The issue of LNG export continues to receive attention, most recently in Congress with hearings held in both the House and Senate that examined expediting the LNG permitting process. APGA testified at a March House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in opposition to expediting the permitting process. A copy of APGA’s filing is available at www.apga.org/filings.

Adapted from press release by Ted Monroe

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquefaction/24042014/apga_files_intervening_motion_for_sabine_pass_liquefaction_terminal_exports/