{ "id": "RL32386", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL32386", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 312081, "date": "2006-01-31", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:16:17.332029", "title": "Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in U.S. Energy Policy: Infrastructure and Market Issues", "summary": "Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to the United States are increasing to supplement domestic\ngas\nproduction. Recent actions by Congress and federal agencies have promoted greater LNG supplies\nby changing regulations, clarifying siting authorities, and streamlining the approval process for LNG\nimport terminals. Were these policies to continue and gas demand to grow, LNG might account for\nas much as 21% of U.S. gas supply by 2025, up from 3% in 2005. Congress is examining the\ninfrastructure and market implications of greater U.S. LNG demand.\n \n There are concerns about how LNG capacity additions would be integrated into the\nnation\u2019s gas\ninfrastructure. Meeting projected U.S. LNG demand would require six to ten new import terminals\nin addition to expanding existing terminals. Twelve new terminals, most in the Gulf of Mexico, are\napproved, but public opposition has blocked many near-to-market terminals which might save\nbillions of dollars in gas transportation costs. New LNG terminals can also require more regional\npipeline capacity to transport their supply, although this capacity may not be available in key\nmarkets. Securing LNG infrastructure against accidents and terrorist attacks may also be a challenge\nto public agencies. Since import terminals process large volumes of LNG, a breakdown at any\nfacility has the potential to bottleneck supply.\n \n LNG\u2019s effectiveness in moderating U.S. gas prices will be determined by global LNG\nsupply,\nthe development of a \u201cspot\u201d market, potential market concentration, and evolving\ntrading\nrelationships. There appears to be sufficient interest among LNG exporters to meet global demand\nprojections, although some new export projects may not be built. An LNG spot market, which may\nhelp U.S. companies import LNG cost-effectively, is also growing. Although some analysts believe\na cartel may influence the future LNG market, the potential effectiveness of a such a cartel is unclear. \nWhether exporters cooperate or not, an integrated global LNG market may change trading and\npolitical relationships. Individual country energy polices may affect LNG price and supply\nworldwide. Trade with LNG exporters perceived as unstable or inhospitable to U.S. interests may\nraise concerns about supply reliability.\n \n Recent measures before Congress seek to encourage both domestic gas supply and new LNG\nterminal construction. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( P.L. 109-58 ) includes incentives for domestic\ngas producers and grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission \u201cexclusive\u201d\nauthority to\napprove onshore LNG terminal siting applications, among other provisions. Other proposals in the\n109th Congress, including H.R. 4318 , H.R. 3918 , and H.R. 3811 would lift federal restrictions on natural gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf. As\nCongress debates U.S. natural gas policy, three questions emerge: (1) Is expanding LNG imports the\nbest option for meeting natural gas demand in the United States? (2) What future role, if any, should\nthe federal government play in facilitating the development of LNG infrastructure domestically and\nabroad? (3) How might Congress mitigate the risks of the global LNG trade within the context of\nnational energy policy?\n This report will be updated as events warrant.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL32386", "sha1": "b26e0ec6766135586d2b3df03ed6baf1524c86bd", "filename": "files/20060131_RL32386_b26e0ec6766135586d2b3df03ed6baf1524c86bd.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32386", "sha1": "bc179dca9098af9ba02579d24d0bbe6f87410203", "filename": "files/20060131_RL32386_bc179dca9098af9ba02579d24d0bbe6f87410203.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc805867/", "id": "RL32386_2005Feb18", "date": "2005-02-18", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in U.S. Energy Policy: Infrastructure and Market Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050218_RL32386_ac54332cc9bfc2defdbcb396e6c336f6aefbb7c9.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050218_RL32386_ac54332cc9bfc2defdbcb396e6c336f6aefbb7c9.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819617/", "id": "RL32386_2004May24", "date": "2004-05-24", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in U.S. Energy Policy: Issues and Implications", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20040524_RL32386_05c0ec23ec1c011598c1bc84c1de052edf0e7a65.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20040524_RL32386_05c0ec23ec1c011598c1bc84c1de052edf0e7a65.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Economic Policy", "Energy Policy", "Foreign Affairs" ] }