Many influencers present at or watching the meetings only took to Twitter to share updates and their thinking:

Chairman Ron Wyden's opening statement remarks set the tone:

Sen. Wyden -- Nat Gas provides a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for US econ and exports shouldn't be an either/or discussion #TalkNatGas

— Andrew Shaw (@AndrewShaw21) May 21, 2013

As did his thoughtful approach to exports:

This doesn’t have to be an either/or choice between no exports and no limits on exports. -@ronwyden #TalkNatGas

— Senate Energy Cmte (@SenateEnergy) May 21, 2013

Witness Gregg Kantor, President/CEO of Northwest Natural, reminded followers of the incredible amount of money American consumers are saving due to affordable natural gas resources:

@nwnatural 's Kantor: from lower #natgas prices customers have saved $250 billion nationwide ow.ly/l12vV #TalkNatGas

— AGA (@aga_naturalgas) May 14, 2013

Many of these consumers are middle-class families and small business owners:

@senateenergy Domestic #natgas abundance is keeping utility bills low 4 consumers, including families & small business owners. #talknatgas

— Sen. Lena C. Taylor (@SenTaylor) May 21, 2013

During the forums, the impact of natural gas in the manufacturing sector couldn't be ignored:

Our country's #natgas supply has made the U.S. manufacturing sector morecompetitive & created jobs. #talknatgas @senateenergy

— Rep. Dave Ober (@DaveOber) May 21, 2013

American #natgas is spurring U.S manufacturing jobs. @senateenergy say yes to jobs here. #talknatgas

— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) May 21, 2013

Or the potential for the chemical industry to add hundreds of thousands of jobs because of affordable energy:

Dooley: By 2020, industry investments could create 46k direct chem. industry jobs & 264k indirect jobs in supplier industries. #TalkNatGas

— American Chemistry (@AmChemistry) May 21, 2013

And as one Twitter user reminded followers, quoting Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, on the issue of exports, it's important to remember the cost of unchecked exports:

@stabenow: Unchecked exports of U.S. #natgas could lead to 3X increase in consumer pricing & negatively impact U.S. environment #talknatgas

— Nic Clark(@clarknic) May 21, 2013

Stay up to date with us and our conversations about America's natural gas by following us on Twitter, and tracking the hashtags #natgas, #LNG, and #AEApoll.

Click here for more tweets about the recent natural gas forums.

U.S. energy secretary, Ernest Moniz, has stressed that before exports can continue, the analysis of the economic impact must be sound -- reiterating the agency's stance on a case-by-case approach to applications.

America's Energy Advantage has always stood behind a rational and balanced approach to exports and believes this development signals a more secure future for our natural gas resources. 

In a recent statement, Moniz questioned the government's existing impact studies, one of which claimed that exports would be an economic win for the U.S.

"Going forward, as I said in my [Senate] confirmation hearing, I am certainly committed to doing a review of what's out there in terms of impact analyses.

"I want to do, as I promised to Chairman Wyden, to make sure that we are using up-to-date data and then we want to go forward on a case-by-case basis ... in terms of evaluating licenses in as expeditious a way [possible], consistent with that review process"

The DOE-commissioned study received harsh criticism for using outdated findings from which it developed its analysis. The report was later refuted by a Charles River Associates study on the same issue.

In order to resume the approval process for new applications, Moniz stressed that the findings of existing reports, including last year's study, would have to be reviewed to clear up any doubts.

The cautious approach of Moniz and the Department of Energy reflects the incredible responsibility we have to ensure that our energy advantage is maintained.

Current projections show that investment in manufacturing and other homegrown industries could multiply the economic impact of the raw natural gas feedstock eight times over. Investments in manufacturing are booming and the promise of jobs is bringing America back from the brink, but only if the DOE makes the right decisions moving forward.

It's a future that's right around the corner, if we take the right steps to achieve it today.

Read more about Moniz's statements in The Wall Street Journal.

America’s Energy Advantage (AEA) is a group of businesses and organizations dedicated to helping to raise the awareness of the emerging renaissance in American manufacturing made possible by our country’s new abundant and affordable supplies of natural gas.

“The results of the survey make intuitive sense; The U.S. economy will receive greater benefit by using natural gas to power our manufacturing plants in order to create high value that we can then export to other countries, rather than simply exporting natural gas in its liquid form.  Our expert economic impact study reached a very similar conclusion,” said Jennifer Diggins, Director, Public Affairs, Nucor Corporation.

"No matter how the question was phrased, respondents are concerned about the price of natural gas, which they use to heat their homes,” said Bert Kalisch, President and CEO of the American Public Gas Association.  “The results of the survey are clear. For the sake of consumers of natural gas and the stability of the U.S. economy, we must not squander this economic advantage.”

“The poll shows that the public overwhelmingly believes that natural gas used here could contribute twice as much to the economy as simply exporting natural gas,” said Peter Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman.  “My company is in the business of manufacturing high value products and we have made investments in the U.S. based on competitively priced natural gas.” 

“We are in the early stages of a natural gas boom that could fuel our economy for generations,” said Kevin Kolevar, Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy at The Dow Chemical Company. “The survey results show that a great majority of the American public agrees with the members of AEA who have said we need to be thoughtful and careful when exporting natural gas.”

About America’s Energy Advantage

America's Energy Advantage, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) not for profit organization that is dedicated to educating the American public about the growth in American manufacturing that has been made possible by our country's abundant and affordable supply of natural gas.

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Contact:  Press@americasenergyadvantage.org

Read full polling results here: www.americasenergyadvantage.org/new-polling

A recent poll of 1,000 Americans shows strong support for using natrual gas to drive job creation, power economic growth, and keep energy costs low in the U.S. See what else the new polling found, and read more here.

Explore the inforgraphic below and share it with your networks on Facebook.

View full sized image.

Is it possible that these enterprising groups could have a lasting effect on America's energy market? A recent article in Financial Times implies just that.

Reporter, Gregory Meyer notes "a combination of sustained low prices and environmental regulations is laying the groundwork for permanently higher gas consumption across North America."

Fortunately, that higher demand is being met by a consistently affordable energy source -- natural gas -- which is great news for our home heating bills and for industrial consumers.

However, we should all be aware of what Meyer refers to as the "wild card": domestic exports of that natural gas.

How would exporting America's natural gas supply change the equation? An increase in demand for natural gas brought about by unchecked exports could mean increased volatility in domestic prices, which would adversely affect those Americans who have come to rely on this affordable energy source. 

The recent Department of Energy decision to consider export permits on a case-by-case basis is the responsible solution for keeping our natural gas future bright.

For more information about consumer pricing and natural gas exports read the full Financial Times piece here.

According to many energy experts, the answer is a resounding yes.

A recent column published in Reuters says the U.S. has low-cost natural gas to thank for a manufacturing boom that is driving a competitive advantage for companies that make everything from plastic to tires to steel and much more. This means big things for the U.S. economy.

Cheap natural gas, which can be produced at approximately one-third the cost of other energy sources, is prompting companies to "re-shore" their manufacturing operations, and bring plants and factories that not long ago were forced to move abroad back to the U.S. This move is breathing new life into hard-hit manufacturing communities that were, until recently, hanging on by a thread.

Evidence of the natural gas boom is easy to find. In fact, more than $100 billion worth of investment have been announced as a result of affordable natural gas.  Some examples include:

• Dow Chemical just restarted a "long-mothballed plastics plant" and is building or rebuilding three others.
• Nucor, a highly profitable steel company, is about to open a "mammoth plant in Louisiana and is starting to build another" that will produce a new type of iron that is only possible with low-cost gas.
• Siemens, a massive German electronics and engineering company, has begun producing gas turbines in Virginia for export to Saudi Arabia.
• Within the last year, Japanese and Korean automobile companies have seen the need to expand their manufacturing capabilities in the U.S to more effectively meet the demand from the European market.

Such economic revitalization is not written in stone, however. The Reuters column is quick to point out that, "The biggest longer-term threat ... is the lobbying drive for permits to export massive amounts of natural gas."

Thankfully, the most recent Department of Energy decision to consider export requests on a case-by-case basis brings the restraint necessary to keep America's natural gas advantage at the forefront. Let's let natural gas power the next economic boom.

For more information about how natural gas is powering economic growth read the full column at Reuters.

About America's Energy Advantage

America's Energy Advantage, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) not for profit organization that is dedicated to educating the American public about the growth in American manufacturing that has been made possible by our country's abundant and affordable supply of natural gas.
 
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Contact:  Press@americasenergyadvantage.org

Yet this offshoring trend that so dominated the last decade is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Today, manufacturers are just as likely to say they are looking to build factories here, in the United States. 

Once unthinkable, the rapid transformation of American manufacturing is currently being fueled by an abundant and affordable energy source: natural gas. Experts project natural gas to make a big difference for the American economy and American workers in both the short and long term.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Antoine van Agtamel, the "founding father of emerging-markets investing," argued that America is experiencing a massive industrial revitalization that is just beginning to take hold. In the truest sense, it is the next emerging market.

As van Agtamel notes:

"Labor costs in China have been rising roughly 15% annually while stagnating in the U.S. Meanwhile, oceans of cheap oil and natural gas are flowing from American shale …

At least 200 companies have relocated plants from offshore to U.S. locations."

A decade ago, nine out of 10 companies would be likely to invest in China, but today that ratio is only three in 10 -- five would be likely to build in America first.

As the spotlight moves from overseas back onto the U.S., the impact of a robust and competitive industrial market is bringing a new generation of manufacturing back to the U.S. Our natural gas future has never been more important.

As we regain our footing on the global stage, we cannot squander this advantage.

As the Department of Energy evaluates applications for permits that seek to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), manufacturers and consumers alike are speaking out for a balanced approach that would preserve America's advantage.

Daniel R. DiMicco, executive chairman of Nucor, an AEA member, is one of the many voices urging for a common sense approach to LNG exports -- one that recognizes the very real economic impact of using natural gas at home to power manufacturing.

In his op-ed that appeared on The Houston Chronicle's Fuel Fix on April 23rd, DiMicco writes:

"Low natural gas prices and a reliable supply are a primary reason Nucor chose to locate a direct reduced iron (DRI) facility in Louisiana.  This project, currently under construction, is a $750 million capital investment that is employing over 600 construction workers and will create 150 permanent, high-paying jobs.

We are not alone.  New industrial projects in the U.S. totaling more than $100 billion have been announced.  Using domestic natural gas to grow our manufacturing sector and export more value-added products will create a much stronger U.S. economy than will exporting LNG alone."

The impact of natural gas on American manufacturing is projected to grow.

As outlined in a recent study by Charles River Associates, the impact of manufacturing would create twice the economic value for our economy and eight times as many jobs as would LNG exports.

If the Department of Energy is to evaluate LNG export applications, it needs to reconcile unchecked exports with the real, measurable impact of using natural gas at home to fuel manufacturing.

America's Energy Advantage is committed to a balanced approach to exports that doesn't put our manufacturing jobs and our long-term economic prosperity at risk.

If you support a common sense approach to exports, add your name today.

This abundance is fueling a true renaissance for U.S. manufacturers and consumers, keeping natural gas prices low, and encouraging a new generation of investment in the U.S.

As reported by The Pittsburgh Business Times:

Pittsburgh-based steelmaker U.S. Steel has consistently touted rising natural gas development as a "game-changing" situation for American manufacturing and domestic steelmakers.

U.S. Steel Chairman and CEO John Surma frequently speaks about the relationship between manufacturing and natural gas. In testimony March 21 before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he noted the company last year used 130 million mmBTU of natural gas in its North American facilities.

Every increase of a dollar in natural gas prices has a more than $100 million impact annually on U.S. Steel, Surma said.

With the potential for economic growth at home, manufacturers of all stripes-- from metals companies to chemical companies -- have come together to support a sensible approach to natural gas exports.

America's Energy Advantage believes we have a natural gas advantage that should not be squandered. With more than 100 investment projects in the works worth $95 billion, we need to take a balanced approach to natural gas policy that doesn't risk volatility or a spike in prices.

Hundreds of you spoke out to the Department of Energy after the release of the NERA report, and we cannot let up now. Again, from The Business Times: 

[AEA] is already is seeing positive signs from its campaign with DOE officials, who noted at a recent meeting they would be moving cautiously on pending applications to fully understand what they are dealing with.

Add your voice in support of America's Energy Advantage today.

The manufacturing renaissance has been fueled by abundant and affordable natural gas. But a push to pursue unchecked exports of LNG could threaten manufacturing at home—and the jobs that have come with it.

When asked to outline the system in place for approving LNG exports, Dr. Moniz vowed to "make a transparent, analytical evaluation application by application."

As The Wall Street Journal reported:

"Moniz said that analysis would include a determination of whether the exports were in the public interest and whether additional exports would lead to more domestic production of gas. "We need to have strong analysis grounded in the best data," Mr. Moniz said."

Currently, the Department of Energy has more than a dozen LNG export applications in the pipeline. Ensuring that the applications are considered carefully for the impact they could have on manufacturing and U.S. jobs is a critical next step for the DOE.

Later in the hearing, Dr. Moniz said:

"In the overarching public interest criterion, the status of the domestic natural gas market is clearly right up in that list of criteria. I think we have an obligation to make judgments, license by license application, but using all those criteria, including the one of cumulative impacts."

Dr. Moniz wasn't alone in questioning the potential negative impact that exports could have on the economy. As Bloomberg reported:

"The Energy Department is relying on an economic analysis, released in December, to examine the applications from companies to build terminals to export liquefied natural gas to markets in Europe and Asia, including Japan. Moniz pledged to review the study.

The analysis, which endorsed exports, used outdated information and didn't fully examine regional effects, said Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, the chairman of the panel."

Taking a balanced approach to LNG exports, based on a solid understanding of the economic impact, should be the Department's priority.

For more details on the hearing follow @OurAdvantage or the hashtag #MonizNom.

We recently explored the findings of the Charles River Associates' study on natural gas exports and identified three key takeaways you need to know. Check out our infographic and share it with your networks on Facebook and Twitter to spread the message.

View full sized image. 

While the report makes problematic assumptions and was conducted using some questionable methodology, there are several conclusions that deserver a closer look.

The report clearly states "Sources of Income Would Shift," which means that for many Americans, incomes would go down. The report says, "Expansion of LNG exports has two major effects on income: it raises energy costs and, in the process, depresses both real wages and the return on capital in all other industries…" [page 7]. This means that besides the narrow set of companies involved in energy production, exports would be a raw deal for most of economy and consumers.

The report goes on to say that "Some Groups and Industries Will Experience Negative Effects of LNG Exports" [page 8]. According to the report:

• "Impacts [of LNG exports] will not be positive for all groups in the economy…" [page 8]
• "Higher natural gas prices in 2015 can also be expected to have negative effect on output and employment, particularly in sectors that make intensive use of natural gas…" [page 8]
• "Overall, declines in output in other sectors are accompanied by similar reductions in worker compensation in those sectors…" [page 9]

In plain English, the NERA report itself says LNG exports would cost jobs and depress wages in all sectors other than oil and gas. And yet, these statements are absent from the many comments filed in support of the report.

We encourage observers of this debate to take a closer look at the NERA study – both at problems in its underlying methodology as well as at the serious consequences of unchecked exports.

Join us in calling on the White House to consider every sector of the economy when they determine if LNG export applications are indeed in the "public interest."

With prices steadily increasing overseas, America's abundant natural gas supply is an important competitive advantage that's driving job growth right here at home.

For many companies, the lure of competitive pricing and the possibility of future innovation is too good to pass up:

German chemicals giant BASF, which operates the plant here, has announced plans for wide-ranging expansion in the United States, where natural gas prices have fallen to a quarter of those in Europe, largely because of American innovations in unlocking shale gas.

We must continue to promote our country's natural gas advantage and its ability to create jobs and boost our economy.

To read more about America's natural gas advantage as it pertains to Europe's manufacturing sector, check out the Washington Post piece.

"I don't think we should just be opening the floodgates … If all the proposed gas export projects were built with reckless abandonment ... then the US price of gas would skyrocket."

The case for keeping US natural gas prices stable couldn't be more simple.

Five years ago, industrial manufacturing was growing abroad, while some American businesses struggled to stay afloat. Today, the natural gas boom is fueling a manufacturing renaissance in the U.S., more than $95 billion in new manufacturing investments, a wealth of skilled jobs, and economic growth are all benefits that we can't afford tojeopardize.

The Financial Times article gets it right:

"US shale gas has transformed the North American energy outlook. Expecting it to do the same for the rest of the world is probably asking too much."

We can't afford to miss this opportunity.

Read more: Financial Times, March 25, 2013: "Opposition mounts to US gas exports," Ed Crooks

According to the report, US Manufacturing and LNG Exports: Economic Contributions to the US Economy and Impacts on US Natural Gas Prices, allowing unchecked exports would have a direct negative impact on US employment, manufacturing, and the economy due in large part to a vast increase in the cost of natural gas.

Some of the key findings of the report include:

• US manufacturing contributes more to GDP, employment, and the reduction of the trade deficit as compared to LNG exports at a commensurate level of natural gas use.
• A global LNG supply shortage of 20-35 billion cubic feet per day by 2030 is projected, and US exports would likely play a major role in filling the gap, which in turn could lead to a tripling of natural gas prices from current levels by 2030.
• Manufacturing is highly sensitive to natural gas prices, and a significant portion of the US manufacturing sector is exposed to impacts from projected increased natural gas prices.
• Current expectations for a low-cost, gas-driven electricity economy and significant deployment of natural gas vehicles could be foregone due to LNG exports.

As outlined in the report, a threefold increase in the cost of natural gas under a high export scenario would be disastrous for our economy and destroy the advantage to our homegrown manufacturers.

In all, $90 billion of gas-intensive investment in manufacturing could be on the line. That's a risk we can't afford, especially given all the added benefits these investments bring to our economy.

As the Department of Energy considers whether to allow unrestricted natural gas exports, America's Energy Advantage believes that this report should play a key role in making that final decision.

Read the full CRA report here (pdf)

Read the AEA press release on the report (doc)

Dr. Economides' February 27th article that appeared in Energy Tribune titled, "Hands Off: Why the Free Market Should Control the Valve to US Natural Gas Exports," (February 27, 2013) gets the facts wrong and is more than moderately misleading. As representatives of non-profit, publicly-owned gas distribution systems nationwide and their consumers, as well as a proud member of America's Energy Advantage (AEA), the American Public Gas Association (APGA) feels compelled to set the record straight.

Despite making passing reference to AEA and some of its members, throughout his article Dr. Economides chooses to narrow the universe of those who have serious concerns about exporting a substantial percentage of our daily natural gas production to only the Dow Chemical Company. His narrative of "the free market" vs. Dow is inaccurate since the reality is that Dow is far from being alone in opposing unchecked LNG export and actually supports the export of LNG.

Dr. Economides ignores AEA's growing membership base, which currently consists of Alcoa Inc., APGA, Celanese, Dow, Eastman, Huntsman, and Nucor. Simply put, AEA is diverse and growing, as other companies are starting to realize the potential and far-ranging adverse impacts of unchecked LNG exports.

While APGA and its members are not involved in international trade, AEA is pro-free trade and is not the archetypal, self-interested proponent of a "command and control" system that Dr. Economides implies in his writing. AEA supports a policy of exporting LNG that appropriately takes into account the needs of domestic consumers, manufacturers, and our country's continuing quest for energy independence.

If the U.S. pursues a policy of unchecked LNG exports, the consequences, in our view, will be harmful for consumers and businesses. The affordable and stable natural gas prices currently enjoyed by consumers in the U.S. are a product of newfound shale gas resources and the fact that the market is largely limited to North America.

LNG exporters understandably want to arbitrage the low U.S. prices in the international market and make huge profits. The problem is that while this will produce revenues and jobs in the natural gas sector, it will, as the NERA Economic Consulting study on exports concluded, hurt virtually every other sector of our economy, including agriculture, energy-intensive sectors, electricity, natural gas consumers, motor vehicles, manufacturing, refined oil products, and services as they all experience declines in wage income, capital investment, and employment. AEA believes that the U.S. will be better served by pursuing a balanced LNG export policy which recognizes the needs of domestic consumers of all types, as well as those of producers and exporters.

Unfortunately, rather than engage in an intelligent debate about the pros and cons of unchecked LNG exports, Dr. Economides chooses to try to win the debate not on the merits but rather by demonizing individual members of AEA. AEA believes that exports of LNG are not a zero sum game. We are confident that when the Department of Energy (DOE) conducts its "national interest" determination, as required by the Natural Gas Act, it will find that consumers, businesses, and the larger national economy will be better served by a balanced policy of LNG exports. But, whichever way DOE leans, we trust the Department will be wise enough to look past the sound and fury of Dr. Economides.

If oil and gas producers had it their way, they would export as much natural gas to foreign economies as they could in order to increase their profits.

But is this in the best interest of our nation?

Andrew Liveris doesn't think so. In his op-ed, he argues, "It is crucial to maintain a stable and affordable domestic supply of natural gas" to benefit U.S. consumers and continue the manufacturing renaissance already underway.

He goes on to caution that "hasty government action, coupled with growing domestic and international demands for natural gas, will trigger a severe supply pinch that will send the U.S. back to days of higher and more volatile domestic natural-gas prices" that will have adverse effects on the U.S. economy.

When considering the country's future, from the potential for millions of new jobs to the basic impact of lower gas prices for families, we can't let the lure of careless exports outweigh the potential for sustainable national growth.

If history is our guide, Liveris reminds us, let us steer clear of shortsighted policies that squander our economic potential:

The country has been down this road before. In the 1990s, America had low natural gas prices that could have created a competitive manufacturing sector. But a series of policy decisions focused on the near term -- including environmental regulations and energy demand created by legislation instead of market forces -- drove the price of domestic gas too high, hurting every American who consumes gas. Companies sent nearly 300,000 manufacturing jobs overseas when they could no longer compete. The U.S. lost more than five million manufacturing jobs between 1992 and 2010.

As the Department of Energy decides what kind of exports to allow, it needs to remain acutely aware of the impact its decision will have on the country's economy. On this front, AEA members support a balanced, rules-based approach that remains faithful to existing laws:

The Department of Energy has already received applications for the export of half the gas consumed in the U.S. today. Under a 1938 law, the department must determine if those applications for exports are in the national interest (taking into account all segments of society).

Several manufacturers, including Dow, are calling for faithfulness to current law.

Stand with American manufacturers and consumers and take action by sending a clear message to Washington and taking three minutes to sign onto our campaign.

Now, the ability to access natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, using technologies such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, has led to a surge in natural gas supplies that have lowered American gas prices to a fraction of prices in other countries.

This abundant and affordable natural gas has given the U.S. a competitive advantage which many manufacturers are seeking to capitalize on with billions of dollars in investments already announced.

Some producers have applied for permits from the Department of Energy to export this natural gas to non-free trade agreement countries such as South Korea, India, China and Japan, where the price of natural gas is much higher.

But exporting too much natural gas too quickly could hurt consumers and slow down or stop the manufacturing renaissance in the U.S by driving prices back up to previous levels.

America's Energy Advantage believes that it is possible to find a balance between exporting U.S. natural gas and using it to spur manufacturing.

Joseph Pratt, an energy historian at the University of Houston, has publically said that he also believes a balance is possible, but only with "careful public policy" that would limit the amount of gas exported so there'll still be enough at a low price domestically to "underwrite this industrial revolution in America."

Help us encourage policymakers to consider the ramifications of exporting too much natural gas and keep the price of natural gas competitive in the U.S.

Read more:

http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/01/14/exporting-lng-raises-fears-and-hopes-on-the-texas-coast

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/01/11/12013/export-push-reframes-debate-over-fracking

Wallace Tyner, the University’s James and Lois Ackerman Professor and accomplished energy economist, questioned the methods and findings of the NERA study on LNG exports, so he and his team conducted a study of their own. They used more accurate models and data sets, and found that increasing natural gas exports will actually result in a decline in GDP.

Tyner’s report stressed that the most important thing to know when considering LNG exports is that they will cause an increase in U.S. natural gas prices (which the NERA study found as well), and this increase will have negative impact on the economy. In that sense, LNG exports are effectively a transfer of money out of the pockets of U.S. manufacturers and American consumers and into the pockets of natural gas asset owners. This is why this issue needs a cautious, thoughtful approach.

What’s more is that LNG exports would reduce energy costs in foreign countries while simultaneously increasing energy costs here at home. This would erode our country’s competitive advantage, threatening to stall the great manufacturing resurgence that is just beginning to bring significant benefits to the U.S. economy.

For the millions of Americans who are not directly involved in the energy production, unchecked LNG export would be a sacrifice on behalf of those who are. We simply cannot let that happen under our watch.

Read more: 

Purdue Executive Summary (pdf)

President, Chairman, and CEO of AEA-member Dow Chemical Company Andrew Liveris spoke to the incredible power of natural gas to fuel robust and long-lasting manufacturing opportunities in the United States:  

Manufacturing in the United States is undergoing a renaissance, facilitated in substantial part by reasonable and stable natural gas prices. For the first time in over a decade, domestic manufacturers in multiple industries, including petrochemicals, fertilizers, glass, aluminum and steel, are planning to invest in production facilities in the United States. Over 100 new projects have been announced so far, representing approximately $95 billion in new investments.

Dow alone is investing about $4 billion in new U.S. facilities that will create thousands of new American manufacturing jobs. The outlook for affordable U.S. natural gas was a significant 3 factor behind our decision to invest on this scale in facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast. To a great extent, continuing optimism for U.S. manufacturing is founded on the prospect of an adequate, reliable and reasonably priced supply of natural gas.

The breadth of manufacturing opportunity offered by our natural gas advantage is unparalleled. While exports have the potential to provide some immediate economic benefit, manufactured goods can create eight times more value.

We can’t let this once-in-a-generation opportunity pass us by.

In his testimony, Liveris offered a clear path forward that encourages smart trade and productive use of natural gas at home. So long as we put fair and clear rules in place, and stick to them, we don’t need to choose between the immediate benefit of exports and the long-term gains of domestic manufacturing.

Unchecked LNG export licensing can cause demand shocks, and the resulting price volatility can have substantial adverse impacts on U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness. In the recent past the price of natural gas was very high and volatile until the advent of substantial shale gas production. Gas supplies and demand are inherently difficult to predict accurately. Thus, Dow urges a cautious, considered, comprehensive and deliberate approach to assessing the public interest.

Forward-thinking policy is essential for maintaining this momentum. We are in year four or five of a 100 year energy advantage, and a thoughtful, prudent approach to policymaking can ensure that we can leverage the competitive advantage to the benefit of all Americans.

If you agree that we need a balanced approach to natural gas that helps our economy stand with America’s Energy Advantage.

Read the full transcript of the testimony:

http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=100c46f6-fac8-4b9f-85cf-bd5c6683992e

It's a story that is being written more and more frequently these days, as companies from Apple to Ford Motor to General Electric, are bringing the production process back to the United States.

This week's cover story in Barron's magazine argues that jobs are returning to American shores, fueled by a home-grown advantage found in stable and affordable natural gas which is creating a resurgence of the U.S. manufacturing sector. Additionally, the article points out the multiplier effect that manufacturing has on the rest of the economy; for every $1 spent on U.S. manufacturing, $1.48 is added to the greater economy.

That's an impressive value.

The benefit to the U.S. economy can't be understated.

Cheap energy not only reduces our trade deficit and our addiction to Middle East oil, it also makes our factories more competitive globally -- a boon for a country that had gone from exporting American goods to exporting American jobs.

Yet, there's a challenge to this new promise.

While the U.S. is reaping the benefits of some of the cheapest natural gas in the world (currently $3.55 per million British thermal units, compared to $12 in Europe and $16 in Japan), excessive exports could ship our gas advantage and our jobs back overseas.

A recent report released by the Department of Energy suggests that excessive exports of natural gas will create profits immediately, but it fails to recognize the tremendous economic potential of using natural gas here to satisfy the incredible demand and support investment in the U.S.

We can't let our advantage go to waste, not when the promise of new jobs is so great.

North America already produces more natural gas than any other continent and the natural abundance coupled with low cost is a potent combination that is putting American manufacturing back on track.

From steel plants, to manufacturing operations reinvesting in capital improvements, to producers of gas-powered electricity, the growth of these and related industries could define a stronger more energy-independent American landscape – if we don't let this opportunity pass us by.

This price advantage is driving a resurgence in the $148 billion market for ethylene, the world's most high-volume chemical.

It is what allows us to make bottles, toys, clothes, windows, pipes, carpet, tires, and many other products.

Multiple U.S. chemical producers have announced plans to build new plants that take advantage of the low price of natural gas, which it uses as a raw material.

The benefits are not just in chemicals. Steel producers are benefitting from the low price for natural gas by using it at new direct-reduced iron (DRI) plants. That's providing big cost savings and expanded margins.

DRI technology has existed for around 25 years, but with high natural gas prices persisting for much of that time, the technique wasn't economical. But now, there are at least five U.S. plants under construction or in the planning stages.

Finally, cheap natural gas is driving a switch in the trucking industry to trucks that burn natural gas directly. Eventually, even diesel trucks could be using fuel made from natural gas. The South African company Sasol plans to build a huge $14 billion plant in Louisiana partly to convert natural gas to diesel, potentially lowering fuel costs for conventional vehicles as well.

Overall, cheaper chemicals, cheaper steel, and cheaper transportation could make the U.S. a far more attractive place for a wide range of industries.

Peter Huntsman, President & CEO of Huntsman Corporation, AEA's newest member, feels strongly that we should use the natural gas here in the U.S. to support sustainable growth in our budding manufacturing sector, which will have positive net economic benefits that will eventually spread throughout the entire economy:

"We think it very short-sighted and bad public policy to allow our nation's natural gas advantage to be stripped and sent overseas to build a new manufacturing base that would otherwise be built here in the U.S."

In a press release yesterday, Huntsman urged policy-makers to see past the short- term gains that producers would reap from thoughtless export, and to consider the ways in which it would hinder sustainable growth in American manufacturing, and ultimately stymie economic growth in the U.S. in the long-run.

He urged for a balanced approach that considers all that is at stake:

"Completely unfettered U.S. exports may enrich a few LNG exporters in the short term, but real, sustained and broad-based growth in the U.S. economy will come from a balanced approach that considers the needs of American manufacturers and consumers, and ensures that natural gas can be exported without undermining this emerging sunrise for American manufacturing and all the supporting industries and services. Our nation must not squander this opportunity."

America's Energy Advantage supports a balanced approach to LNG exports. Without balance, we risk inflating the Oil & Gas sector at the expense of American industry. Additionally, LNG export will lose appeal as other countries catch up in fracking and exploration techniques. That is simply not sustainable over the long-run. Manufacturing is.

We should have a balanced LNG export policy, one that allows for exports, preserves affordable prices for consumers and continues the competitive advantage currently enjoyed by manufacturers. Policy that allows unchecked exports, or policies that create export barriers are extreme and not in the interest of the American consumer, or the American economy.

To find out more information, click here to read the full press release.

You bet they do.

In a survey of registered voters last month, voters made it clear that American gas should be used right here.

American natural gas and resources give us a clear competitive advantage in manufacturing, and when asked how important American manufacturing was to growing our economy, more than half of respondents gave it an importance of 10. That's on a scale of 1 to 10 -- 10 being the highest.

Exports, especially exports without limits, on the other hand, were viewed with serious reservation: 80 percent of voters said "no" when asked if companies should be allowed to export gas without restriction.

A major concern to these voters was how domestic gas prices would be affected if American companies exported gas to other countries. Rising gas prices would hurt not only manufacturers, but all consumers relying on affordable natural gas in their homes.

81 percent said we should restrict exports until we have a better understanding of exactly how prices would react.

Even a recent report released by the Department of Energy on natural gas exports did little to change public opinion. After being informed about the conclusions of the report, voters opposed export by a 5-to-1 margin.

Unfettered exports pose a real danger to domestic growth. Both the millions of jobs and the economic growth fueled by natural gas are all on the line if we don't take this issue seriously.

Stand with American voters and make sure the Department of Energy gets the facts on exports straight. Speak out now.

Read more:

View the natural gas survey results (.pdf)

Read the America's Energy Advantage press release on the survey

The Department of Energy has opened a window for comments on the report now through January 24th. Organizations and proponents of U.S. jobs are speaking out already.

You can add your voice, too.

The report, which weighs the impact of natural gas exports, makes the case that exports will increase economic growth, but it doesn't consider the billions of dollars in economic output and thousands of new jobs made possible by investment here at home.

The report also shows how exports would be good for oil and gas companies, who could sell more gas, but bad for everyone else, whose prices would go up as a result. We want a solution that is good for everyone -- producers and consumers alike, including Americans who heat their homes with natural gas.

Here are the facts you need to know about the DOE report:

• The report uses the outdated EIA 2011 Annual Energy Outlook, which does not account for increases and projected growth of manufacturing over the last two years.
• The report calls the U.S. manufacturing sector a "modest consumer of natural gas" even though manufacturing is the largest overall user of natural gas, at roughly 40 percent.
• The value-added to natural gas through manufacturing far outstrips the benefits of exporting the raw product. The manufacturing process can multiply the energy value by as much as 20 times from the production of high value products. Think of it as exporting lumber vs. exporting a wooden bench.

One thing the report does get right is that industries such as fertilizer, steel, and chemicals are the most likely to feel the impact of increased natural gas exports. When so much of our economic growth and low utility bills for homeowners depend on natural gas, unfettered exports are the wrong choice for consumers and American jobs.

Lucky for us, we are in the midst of a manufacturing renaissance as a result of the development of shale gas technology. Natural gas is an essential building block of American manufacturing. Not only is it used to power the manufacturing facilities at which these are made, but it is also the key raw material used to create many consumer products ranging from footballs to carpets, from automobiles to smart phones, and so much more.

But, this growth appears to be slowing; real manufacturing value added rose 4.3 percent in 2011, after increasing 11.2 percent in 2010.

According to a 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers study, it is estimated that high rates of shale gas recovery could result in a million new manufacturing jobs in 2025.

But, without shale, there could be one million unrealized jobs in our country by 2025.

These new manufacturing jobs are often overlooked because it is easier to see direct employment from the natural gas and oil drilling process. But increased manufacturing means more jobs in the U.S., more revenue in our marketplace, and a much more stable, robust U.S. economy.

Help us grow our economy by protecting our shale gas reserve and further fueling the manufacturing renaissance. Learn how you can take action.

Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/wider-availability-expands-uses- for-natural-gas.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304072004577325582170978416.html

In September, Chrysler Group LLC allowed all dealers to order the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup. According to Peter Grady, Vice President of network development and fleet, dealers have been clamoring for compressed natural gas vehicles, particularly in the natural gas states.

According to Grady, "The electric technology just isn't advanced, it's not there, and there's so much innovation that's required to make it viable." Because compressed natural gas is readily available and the engines are cheaper than plug in hybrids, Chrysler is seeing interest beyond buyers in the natural gas industry. Some potential fleet and commercial buyers include waste and transit companies as well as airport shuttles.

AT&T is already running 7% of its 70,000 service vans on compressed natural gas and hopes to increase that number in the near future. But, for CNG vehicles to become more viable more CNG fueling stations need to be built. AT&T operates 316 vehicles in the Dallas, Texas area with only 4 fueling stations to go to.

Read more:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-14/chrysler-opens-dealer-orders-for-natural-gas-ram-pickup.html

The report found that for every $1 of benefit gained by LNG export $24 of benefits was lost in the contraction of the gas-dependent industries.

The debate in Australia on LNG exports has similarities to the U.S. debate. Both countries currently enjoy an abundance of natural gas, which could be used to fuel value-added, downstream domestic manufacturing investment. Both can maintain their competitive advantage through a balanced approach to exports that benefits both producers and domestic consumers.