GOP Congress: 5 energy priorities

Republicans captured control of Congress in the 2014 midterms elections. But what does it mean for US energy policy? Here are five GOP energy priorities.

2. US gas goes abroad

Cliff Owen/AP/File
Transfer pipes carry liquified natural gas at Dominion Energy's Cove Point LNG Terminal in Lusby, Md. Federal regulators recently approved a proposal to export liquefied natural gas from the Cove Point terminal.

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.

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