Murkowski Comments on DOE Approval of Dominion Cove Point LNG Export License

September 11, 2013

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Department of Energy’s approval of a license allowing Dominion Power to expand its Cove Point facility to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to nations that aren’t party to U.S. free-trade agreements.

“The United States has a narrowing window of opportunity to join the global gas trade. In order for us to take advantage of the geopolitical and economic benefits offered by selling American gas to our friends and allies overseas, projects like Dominion’s Cove Point must be approved without unnecessary delay,” Murkowski said. “I welcome this decision, but I must point out that Cove Point filed its application in October 2011, and is just now seeing a decision. On average, each of the four projects approved so far had to wait 22 months for a decision. I’m encouraged that DOE seems to have picked up the pace of its reviews. It’s important that DOE now move with timely purpose onto the next.”

During the August recess, Murkowski released The Narrowing Window: America’s Opportunity to Join the Global Gas Trade, a white paper urging DOE expedite its approvals without arbitrary delays.

Approved LNG Export Orders to Non-FTA Countries

 

Date of Non-FTA Application

Date of Approval

Days of Delay

Months

Sabine Pass

9/7/2010

5/20/2011

255

8.5

Freeport LNG

12/17/2010

5/17/2013

882

29.4

Lake Charles Exports

5/6/2011

8/7/2013

824

27.5

Dominion Cove Point

10/3/2011

9/11/2013

709

23.6

AVERAGE

 

 

 

22.3