U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for approving Dominion’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project at Cove Point, Maryland.

The approval comes after a call from Murkowski last year to move ahead with consideration of Dominion’s application for an authorization to export LNG from its Maryland facility.

“Today’s decision is another positive step forward for American trade opportunity,” Murkowski said. “Our rising production of natural gas allows us to satisfy our own energy needs here at home, while helping our friends and allies around the world. This is also a chance to play a constructive role in the global energy market as a leader, not just an importer and consumer.”

Murkowski, chairman of the Senate energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged DOE officials last June to continue issuing conditional authorizations until proposed changes to its application process were finalized, and then to quickly issue final authorizations to projects that had already been through environmental review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Following Murkowski’s call for action, DOE finalized changes to its application process on Aug. 15 and in the ensuing months issued final licenses to projects in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida shortly after FERC approval.

“I have long advocated for expediting the federal LNG approval process, and have reached out repeatedly to the administration hoping to find ways where we can grant those no-brainer approvals on a timely basis,” Murkowski said. “It’s time to ensure infrastructure projects like these are given the certainty they deserve.”

Cove Point was licensed as an LNG import facility in 1972. DOE granted the project a conditional authorization in 2013. When completed, the export terminal will be the first on the East Coast.