DOE Releases Report on Macroeconomic Impacts of LNG Exports
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy released the NERA Study assessing the macroeconomic impacts of LNG exports on the U.S. economy. The report finds that under all scenarios studied, the United States is projected to gain net economic benefits from allowing LNG exports, with an increase in net economic benefits as the level of LNG exports increased. The report also finds that “the benefits that come from export expansion more than outweigh the losses from reduced capital and wage income to U.S. consumers, and hence LNG exports have net economic benefits in spite of higher domestic natural gas prices.” Public comments on the report are due January 24, 2013; reply comments are due February 25, 2013. The report and press release can be found on DOE’s website.