Congressional Democrats have also weighed in heavily on the issue, warning that exports would harm consumers and domestic manufacturing.
“It could harm the nation’s ability to achieve energy independence, combat pollution and preserve the environment, and improve the economic competitiveness of American manufacturers,” said Oregon Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden in a statement.
The Hill reports that President Barack Obama has said he wants export more oil and gas in order to turn the country into an energy superpower in his second term.
For the Energy Department to approve exports to countries that the U.S. doesn’t already have free trade agreements with, the arrangement must be proven to be in the “public interest.”
“Our vast resources have allowed us to become the world’s biggest producer of natural gas,” Gerard said. “Misguided economic theories and ill-considered policies could have disastrous consequences, disrupting the benefits to the wider economy, the trend of bringing manufacturers back home, and imperiling the billions of revenue energy investments bring to our government.”
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