Sen. Wyden: Energy Dept. must explain gas export review criteria

The Democrat slated to lead the Senate’s Energy Committee is pressuring Energy Secretary Steven Chu to describe how the agency will make decisions about whether to approve natural-gas export proposals.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), in a letter Tuesday, asked for an “all-inclusive description” of factors the department will consider as it weighs an array of export applications.

“It is important that DOE include in its description how it considers current and proposed exports’ impact on domestic natural gas supplies, air pollutant emissions, domestic natural gas prices, electricity prices, U.S. employment and manufacturing, and economic growth,” the Oregon Democrat writes.

Wyden is expected to become chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee if Democrats retain their majority in the upcoming elections. Current chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is retiring from the Senate.

Record U.S. natural-gas production is fueling an array of applications to export liquefied natural gas from Oregon, the Gulf Coast and elsewhere; a list of projects under review is here.

Wyden has expressed skepticism about the proposals, citing concerns that a surge in exports could raise natural gas costs for manufacturers and other sectors of the economy.

An Energy Department contractor is still working on a closely watched economic analysis of the proposed exports. But Wyden’s letter says the department must also explain how it will “establish the actual decision-making criteria” to be used for specific applications.