What they are Saying

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, joint statement at U.S.-EU Energy Council meeting – May 4, 2016

“The council welcomed the lifting of U.S. crude oil export restrictions in 2015 and the commencement of U.S. LNG exports from the Gulf Coast in 2016, as they are important milestones for global energy markets that can also help improve security of supply globally and in Europe.”

Robin Dunnigan, U.S. State Department deputy assistant secretary for energy diplomacy – April 28, 2016

“The U.S. will be a reliable, market-based supplier to global markets, and that’s not only good for our energy security, it’s good for the energy security of our partners and allies around the world. So I’m very much looking forward to U.S. LNG being part of the diversification solution in Europe and in other countries around the world.”

Paula Gant, U.S. Energy Department, principal deputy assistant secretary – April 28, 2016

“[B]efore even the first of the seven cargos left Sabine Pass, the potential availability of U.S. LNG was already having a disruptive influence on the balance of power between producers and consumers … and we expect that disruptive influence to continue, and that is good for our energy security and that of our trading partners and allies globally.”

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, joint statement with G7 energy ministers – May 2, 2016

“The expanding role and globalization of natural gas markets, for both pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) bring new opportunities and challenges. We welcome Japan’s Strategy for LNG Market Development, the EU Strategy for LNG and gas storage and LNG exports from North America and other sources.”

Wall Street Journal – With U.S. Gas, Europe Seeks Escape From Russia’s Energy Grip – Feb. 25, 2016

“Like shale gas was a game changer in the U.S., American gas exports could be a game changer for Europe,” said Maros Sefcovic, the European Union’s energy chief. … Many in Europe see U.S. entry into the market as part of a broader effort to challenge Russian domination of energy supplies and prices in this part of the world. Moscow has for years used its giant energy reserves as a strategic tool to influence former satellite countries … The shale boom has reshaped the world energy market over the past decade, with the U.S. emerging as a new energy exporter, and the beginning of gas exports represents a big moment in this new world.”

White House Council of Economic Advisers – Annual Report – Feb. 19, 2015

“An increase in U.S. exports of natural gas, and the resulting price changes, would have a number of mostly beneficial effects on natural gas producers, employment, U.S. geopolitical security, and the environment.”

Amos Hochstein, U.S. State Department special envoy and coordinator for International Energy Affairs – Jan. 8, 2015

“The fact that we have approved exports of natural gas has already had an impact on Europe. And where the molecule actually ends up going, also doesn’t matter. … It’s going to go into the international market that will rationalize itself, and it will therefore mean that a commodity that has different prices in different markets will start coming down and you’ll see some kind of a coalescing of the prices, as we saw when we stopped importing. Simply by the act of no longer importing the enormous amounts of natural gas/LNG we were importing, that already had an impact. … Once our supplies come on the market, even though the first ones will go to India and Japan, it still frees up gas to go other places.”

David Goldwyn, Goldwyn Global Strategies and former U.S. State Department special envoy and coordinator for International Energy Affairs – July 2014

“[F]rom a geopolitical perspective, increased LNG exports from the U.S. and its allies would shift rents away from traditional, autocratic suppliers, including Russia, that have used the proceeds to finance policies at odds with U.S. national security interests. U.S. supply also promotes price competition and stability in global oil and gas markets. Price stability benefits U.S. economic growth, and also better ensures that U.S. adversaries that are major oil and gas exporters are less able to enjoy higher export revenues stemming from major global supply disruptions.”

President Barack Obama, joint statement with European leaders – March 26, 2014

“The situation in Ukraine proves the need to reinforce energy security in Europe and we are considering new collaborative efforts to achieve this goal. We welcome the prospect of U.S. LNG exports in the future since additional global supplies will benefit Europe and other strategic partners.”

Bill Richardson and Spence Abraham, former U.S. energy secretaries – May 14, 2014

“The president has full and unquestioned authority to approve energy exports by executive action without Congress. The Natural Gas Act says the Department of Energy makes the decision on export permit approvals, and the law presumes exports are in the public interest. The administration can and should move faster on approving export permits.”

(Ret.) Gen. James L. Jones, former NATO supreme allied commander and former national security adviser – March 31, 2014

“I believe that a focus on energy security can and must be a critical new element in the American strategic partnership in Central and Eastern Europe, and will benefit Poland, Europe as a whole, and the United States. … The shale revolution in the United States has fundamentally transformed the global energy picture, as well as the debate concerning U.S. energy policy. … I believe the United States should undo outdated regulations that prevent us from sharing our energy abundance with friendly countries. Doing so would benefit our allies, but also provide important economic and trade benefits to the United States.”

NERA Senior Vice President David Montgomery – July 25, 2013

“In some ways the pursuit of this notion of where is the ‘sweet spot’ is a will-o-the-wisp, and I’ve gone through many efforts to try to figure out why there is so much concern about our exporting too much. …The question is where the government is trying to make something happen that would not happen without the affirmative action of government. …But natural gas exports are not something which are being created by government action. They’re something that will happen. The market itself will determine quite well (the proper balancing point). …In this case all we really need to do is get out of the way.”