WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va) delivered a statement in support of the LNG Permitting Certainly and Transparency Act (S. 33) during a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. This bill eliminates bureaucratic red tape and expedites liquefied natural gas (LNG) export applications so that West Virginia, and other states with vast shale gas reserves, can benefit from the economic opportunities presented by the natural gas boom.

Sen. Capito questioned witnesses before the committee about the current process and timing of LNG export applications, and projections for what the vast reserves of natural gas actually supply. Witnesses included Mr. Christopher A. Smith, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; Mr. Ross E. Eisenberg, Vice President, Energy and Resources Policy, National Association of Manufacturers;

Mr. Martin J. Durbin, President and CEO, America’s Natural Gas Alliance.

 

Watch the video of Sen. Capito’s remarks HERE.

 

Opening statement as prepared for delivery:

 

Thank you, Chairman Murkowski.  I am pleased to be here today, and pleased to be an original co-sponsor of Senator Barrasso’s bill.  Many people think of the shale gas boom as something that is mostly in the western states, like Senator Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming.  But that is not the case. The eastern US, and my home state of West Virginia, are also blessed to have vast shale gas reserves.  And we are still just discovering just how massive these reserves are. 

 

To illustrate the point, let me share just a few facts from a December 2014 Department of Energy report on oil and gas reserves in the United States.

 

  • In 2013, West Virginia surpassed Oklahoma to become the third largest shale gas reserves state.

  • West Virginia also had the 2nd largest discovery of natural gas reserves, behind only Pennsylvania.   

  • In fact, a full 70% of the total 2013 US increase in proven natural gas reserves is because of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, in the Marcellus shale play.  

 

We have more than enough natural gas to power both an industrial renaissance back home in West Virginia and to export liquefied natural gas—LNG.   Supplying LNG to our friends and allies decreases their dependence on often hostile regimes in the Middle East and Russia and as a result, increases our own national security. Not to mention being a huge economic boon to my state and our country. 

 

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