The US shale boom has resulted in more natural gas than US markets can handle, meaning producers would rather sell it overseas.
Because the boom is so recent, the US doesn’t have the infrastructure needed to get that gas to foreign markets quickly. That means building export terminals, or retrofitting existing infrastructure to handle exports.
The GOP accuses the Department of Energy of dragging its feet in the permitting process for liquefied natural gas export terminals, and is pushing legislation to speed up the process. Legislation to expedite permitting could attract bipartisan support. Many Democrats – Obama included – already back LNG trade with Europe and Asia.
