Department of Energy permits Emera to export compressed natural gas to non-FTA countries

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued its final authorization on Monday to Emera CNG, LLC to export domestically-produced compressed natural gas (CNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

The authorization will allow Emera to export up to 0.008 billion cubic feet of CNG each day for 20 years from Emera’s proposed facility at the Port of Palm Beach, Florida. The gas can be shipped in trailers, tank containers or ocean-going carriers to any non-FTA country not prohibited by U.S. laws or policies.

Officials are focusing on the development of natural gas resources as a way to not only help improve energy security, but also to create jobs and boost economic development.

The Energy Information Administration forecasts a record average production rate of domestic natural gas of 78.92 Bcf/d in 2015.

Before issuing any authorizations, DOE officials did an extensive review of the Emera application. Criteria considered included economic, energy security, and environmental impacts.

Federal law generally requires approval of natural gas exports to countries that have an FTA with the United States. For countries that do not have an FTA with the U.S., the Natural Gas Act directs the Department of Energy to grant export authorizations unless the department finds that the proposed exports “will not be consistent with the public interest.”