WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the advancement of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects that would take greater advantage of the nation’s energy abundance by further expanding U.S. trade in natural gas.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Wednesday approved of the Freeport liquefied natural gas project. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy today granted a conditional license to the Oregon LNG project.

“This has been a good week for those of us advocating for an expansion of our nation’s natural gas exports,” Murkowski said about the separate decisions. “Rising domestic production presents a golden opportunity to become a world leader in energy exports, while still meeting the full demand for gas at home.”

Texas-based Freeport is the third LNG export project authorized by FERC. Oregon LNG is the seventh project to receive a conditional license from DOE. Only one project, Cheniere’s Sabine Pass, has received final approvals from both agencies.

DOE has insisted that its recent proposed changes to the export licensing review process would streamline, rather than delay, the regulatory process.

“I have long called for expediting the review process to ensure that federal approval of LNG exports is granted in a timely fashion,” Murkowski said. “I will continue to keep a close eye on the new system once it is finalized to make sure the progress we’ve seen doesn’t slip.”

Murkowski is the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Last August she published a white paper entitled, The Narrowing Window: America’s Opportunity to Join the Global Gas Trade, available on the energy panel’s website.

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