Washington, D.C. – Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s announcement that it has approved a third liquefied natural gas export terminal, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana:

"While I am pleased to see DOE is continuing to proceed on a case-by-case basis, with each new permit to send natural gas overseas, the Energy Department has a higher bar to prove these exports are in the best interests of American consumers and employers,” Wyden said. “I will continue  to closely monitor DOE's process going forward."

The Energy Department has now approved export permits totaling 5.6 billion cubic feet per day. That is just below the 6-8 bcf per day that numerous reports and analysts have projected as the likely range for U.S. LNG exports, without impacts on domestic prices.