Udall pushes natural gas exports measure amid Ukraine crisis

[ProSense]

Udall pushes natural gas exports measure amid Ukraine crisis

By Laura Barron-Lopez

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is making the case for expanding U.S. exports of natural gas as the crisis in Ukraine unfolds.

Udal, who faces reelection this year, introduced legislation late Wednesday evening calling for the U.S. to strengthen strategic partnerships with allies through the expedited approval of natural gas.

"Colorado and our nation's clean-burning and job-creating natural gas has an important role to play in strengthening global security," Udall said in a statement. "The ongoing crisis in Ukraine — and Russia's threat to use its natural gas exports as a cudgel there — shows why we need to responsibly develop our natural gas reserves and expand our ability to export this resource abroad."

"This common-sense bill will strengthen our economy at home and help Colorado companies and small businesses across America bolster our presence abroad," he added.

The American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act would amend a provision of the Natural Gas Act to allow for approval of natural gas to World Trade Organization member countries. Ukraine and surrounding countries make the cut.

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http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/200071-sen-mark-udall-pushes-natural-gas-exports-bill

Mark UdallVerified account?@MarkUdall·

Crisis in #Ukraine shows how #CO #naturalgas exports can promote stability & why federal gov must approve more liquefied-gas terminals.

https://twitter.com/MarkUdall/status/440929626085281792

Republicans use Putin as an excuse to push fossil-fuel projects

By Ben Adler

The hallmark of a Republican policy proposal is that it can be adapted to virtually any circumstance. Just as George W. Bush advanced tax cuts as the appropriate response to both budget surplus and deficit, congressional Republicans believe that fossil fuel promotion is the appropriate response to, well, everything. And so they have looked at the vexing problem of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea region and come up with a carefully calibrated answer: “Drill, baby, drill!”

First, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was struck with a brilliant insight: If Russia’s meddling in Ukraine is dangerous because Russia supplies Europe with oil and natural gas through pipelines that traverse Ukraine, then the U.S. should offer Europe an alternative source of fossil fuels. And so, she argues, the Obama administration should expedite approval of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. “Our ability to respond quickly and nimbly I think is somewhat hampered by the process that we have in place,” she told reporters at an energy industry conference in Houston on Monday. “If this was a situation in which we wanted to use as political leverage our natural gas opportunities here, we’re not in that place now, and quite honestly it may be some time.” In her speech to the gathering, she also called on Congress to repeal the ban on exporting crude oil, saying, “Lifting the oil export ban will send a powerful message that America has the resources and the resolve to be the preeminent power in the world.”

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), sensing an opportunity to portray generic Republican corporatism as a brave stand against Vladimir Putin’s bullying, issued his own statement Tuesday calling on Obama to approve LNG terminals. “The U.S. has a responsibility to stand up for freedom and democracy around the globe, and we have a responsibility to stand with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion,” said Boehner. “One immediate step the president can and should take is to dramatically expedite the approval of U.S. exports of natural gas. … We should not force our allies to remain dependent on Putin for their energy needs.”

<...>

The arguments advanced by Murkowski, Boehner, and even Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) rest on two more false premises: that a disruption in Russian gas supplies to Europe represents a fearsome threat to the Continent, and that Russia’s behavior might therefore be altered by increased American gas exports.

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http://grist.org/climate-energy/republicans-use-putin-as-an-excuse-to-push-fossil-fuel-projects/

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[earthside]

2. Strictly politics.

And a bad idea ... Udall is better by far than any of the Repuglicans that will run against him.

But Mark Udall is no Mo Udall or Tom Udall and he has been a lackluster U.S. Senator for Colorado.