Thursday, January 29, 2015WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson and Tim Ryan are praising yesterday’s passage by the House of Representatives of House Resolution 351, Johnson’s legislation expediting the approval process of liquefied natural gas export permits. The legislation passed the House on a 277-133 vote.
“America is experiencing an energy renaissance because of the oil and natural gas development occurring across eastern and southeastern Ohio, and throughout the United States," said Johnson, R-6 Ohio. "We’re now the world’s largest producer of natural gas, and because we have become so efficient at producing this resource, we have an excess supply we can sell to our allies across the globe -- allies that have been beholden to the whims of Vladimir Putin’s Russia for their energy needs.”
Johnson described his legislation as "a significant job creator," citing estimates that it could result in the creation of 45,000 jobs associated with the construction of LNG export terminals.
“Additionally, this bill would further spur our manufacturing industry’s comeback -- estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be created because of increased natural gas production and development," he said. "I’m honored to have been part of the team to usher this bipartisan legislation through the House of Representatives, and I’m hopeful that it will clear the Senate and be placed on President Obama’s desk for his signature.”
Ryan, D-13 Ohio, thanked Johnson for his efforts to introduce and promote the bill. An original cosponsor of the legislation, Ryan is founder and co-chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional LNG Export Working Group. He predicts the potential for the United States to sell LNG to foreign nations as having an “enormous effect,” not just on the northeastern Ohio economy but around the country.
“This bill codifies the policy change that the Department of Energy voluntarily made last year, to expedite the approval process of LNG export facilities that have favorably completed the required Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and National Environmental Policy Act reviews,” he said. “I was proud to vote in favor of this important legislation. The longer we delay the approval of expanded exports, the more we risk losing our competitive and technological advantage over other natural gas-producing countries.”
Pictured: LNG tanker on the ocean.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our twice-monthly print edition and to our free daily email headlines.