K.J. Rodgers
Crownsville, Maryland  

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For the first time in 50 years, natural gas has been exported to a foreign country from the lower 48 states. Let’s keep it going!

For the first time in 50 years, natural gas has been exported to a foreign country from the lower 48 states. Cheniere Energy’s export terminal in Sabine Pass, Louisiana loaded liquefied natural gas on to a 100,000-ton tanker, “Asia Vision” to be sent to Brazil.

This is outstanding news for a variety of reasons. For starters, it places the US officially in the LNG global market. The global market place has been filled with troubles, and another major player in the LNG export game is Russia. Their grasp on the international LNG market is more monopolistic as they use their exports to pressure dependent countries into political choices, as we saw in Ukraine. So having another super-power in the game changes the political landscape.

Critics of this kind of exports are quick to challenge our ability to change the European marketplace, as this first load of LNG went to South America. I am certain, though, the money invested into LNG export facilities is large enough for the companies to test the waters (no pun intended) before they attempt an oceanic voyage. The idea that we cannot hurt the Russians’ grasp in South America lacks vision and understanding of the world political landscape.

Brazil is a very large country, packed full of people. It is a great market for natural gas, especially when you consider who their neighbor is – Venezuela. Venezuela has been for years a major opponent to the US. Hugo Chávez, former leader of Venezuela has been a long-term ally of Russia, even performing joint military training operations with the big bear. As a major oil producer, Venezuela and its radical ideology also put pressure on its neighbors, so opening the door for LNG is one chip away.

Since Cheniere Energy’s export terminal is now operational, we need to focus on Cove Point in Lusby, Maryland. Cove Point is still under construction and seems to be moving right along despite the NIMBY’s and pseudo-environmentalists kicking and screaming the entire way. The same jack-wagons who are always crying foul; Accokeek, Mattawoman, Piscataway Creeks Communities Council Inc. (AMP), Sierra Club, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, are consistently challenging the permits, the regulatory compliance, and certificates of public necessity. Thankfully, the courts have not been swayed by the activism and actually pay attention to issues of legal standings and the like. They have largely agreed with Dominion.

Once this facility is up and running, the majority of the Marcellus and Utica Shale gas earmarked for export will flow through this facility. Once the gas is steadily flowing, the tankers can be used more for overseas shipping, and that will strengthen our stance in the global marketplace. Look out Russia, we’re coming!

Other than taking out Russia’s stronghold, the business is a boon for the US too. Gas prices have been so low for so long, that many gas companies have started back-pedaling. This was necessary to lower production and help sustain prices but the impacts on communities and workers have been hard. While low gas prices are great for the users, production companies themselves are also facing some serious choices. That is where the exports can come in to help save gas save the world.

If gas prices domestically increase, the savings passed to consumers will shrink a bit but they’ll still be a bargain. Gas exporting, though, opens the door fro increased revenue without putting the squeeze on the American customers. This keeps gas prices low and stable, yet opens the doors for gas companies to remain profitable. Gas opponents will claim corporate greed, but profitable companies will yield both jobs and competitive pricing, even if it’s not the bargain basement situation we now have. In the end, everyone wins with LNG exports.

So, is gas going to save the world? Who knows with the upcoming elections and the continued support for candidates who lack global understanding of economics and politics, but if we can stay the course and allow our natural gas to be exported, there is only one at risk of losing – Russia.