Republicans & Dems Work to OK EXPORT of OUR FRACKING GAS to EU if Russia's Gazprom Cuts Supply!

[KoKo]

EU leaders draw up plans to send gas to Ukraine if Russia cuts off supply

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/mar/07/eu-leaders-gas-russia-ukraine

Europe braced for possible battle with Moscow after Gazprom threatens to cut off gas supply if Ukraine does not pay bill
--snip---
The move to consider reversing Russian gas flows comes amid growing pressure in Washington to exploit the huge boom in US gas – extracted through fracking technologies – to begin global exports, providing a counter-weight to Moscow’s influence.

> Republicans, backed by gas producers such as ExxonMobil, have for years been pushing to dramatically increase gas production to enable export trade, and are using the crisis in Crimea to argue for swift action by the Obama administration.
>
> US gas production is projected to rise 44% by 2040, according to the US Energy Information Administration, and producers have been pressing the Obama administration to expand exports of natural gas.
>
> The Republican leader of the House, John Boehner, used an an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Friday to call on Obama to “dramatically expand production of American-made energy” and make US supplies of natural gas available to global markets.
>
> The Department of Energy as approved six applications to export domestically approved applications for terminals to export liquefied gas; five are in Texas and Louisiana, and one in Maryland. A further 24 applications are pending and Boehner and other top Republicans are calling on the administration to expedite their approval. “The ability to turn the tables and put the Russian leader in check lies right beneath our feet, in the form of vast supplies of natural energy,” Boehner said.
-snip--
The Obama administration appears receptive to moving to undercut Moscow’s hold
over the energy sector. White House press secretary Jay Carney said this week that while the Department of Energy is approving terminal requests on a case-by-case basis, the US would look for ways to wean Ukraine from its “dependence on Russian gas”.

A senior US official said the State Department was supportive of introducing substantial gas exports abroad as a move to counteract Russia’s influence.


http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/mar/07/eu-leaders-gas-russia-ukraine

[okaawhatever]

1. Russia fracks gas so we're not substituting fracked for non-fracked gas. Also, if Ukraine becomes as

energy efficient as Germany or France they will use approximately 1/6th of the gas they're using now (something Russia wants to stop). The overall benefit for the environment will be significant.
I think we're all willing to sacrifice a small amount to help Ukraine become more energy independent and receive their gas from multiple sources.

[cali]

4. fuck no. small sacrifice my ass

this is about expanding fracking here and that's already a frighteningly unregulated industry that's grown insanely and recklessly over the past decade.

Fracking is the greatest threat to our environment.

[KoKo]

6. Fracked Gas is Last Resort...What about when the gas runs out?

Because we sold it off?

> Republicans, backed by gas producers such as ExxonMobil, have for years been pushing to dramatically increase gas production to enable export trade, and are using the crisis in Crimea to argue for swift action by the Obama administration.

[jsr]

2. And watch your gas bill go down.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Cool. It would give more money to corps and provide the "Vital National Interests" rationale

for our interference in the region.

[ProSense]

5. "there is no indication currently that there’s much risk of a natural gas shortage in the region"

March 7 Press Briefing:

<...>

Q A quick one on Ukraine again. Republicans have been pushing this plan to increase exports of natural gas. Does the administration see that as some type of realistic option when it comes to helping overseas?

MR. EARNEST: Let me start by saying this: There are six licenses that have been approved by the Department of Energy related to the export of about 8.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to a range of countries around the world. What’s important for you to understand about those licenses that have already been issued is that the projects for delivering the product would not be completed until the end of next year. So proposals to try to respond to the situation in Ukraine that are related to our policy on exporting natural gas would not have an immediate effect.

The other factor that’s important to understand about the situation is the current inventories of liquefied natural gas in Europe and in Ukraine are actually above traditional levels or above normal levels. The reason for that is, unlike North America, they’ve had a relatively mild winter in Europe and the region. So there is no indication currently that there’s much risk of a natural gas shortage in the region.

The other dynamic that factors into all this is that Russia prides itself on being a reliable supplier of natural gas to countries around the world -- I would say natural gas and other sources of energy to countries around the world. Shutting off the natural gas would threaten that reputation -- it certainly would undermine it, not just in the eyes of Ukraine and Europe but in countries around the world.

Finally, it’s also important to recognize that Russia relies on revenue from exporting natural gas and other sources of energy. Russia currently yields about $50 billion a year in revenue from exporting natural gas, so ending that kind of relationship with Europe would have significant financial consequences for Russia as well.

So this is a complicated situation. For a more detailed explanation of this complicated dynamic, I’d refer you to the Department of Energy. But in terms of the top lines, the United States has a long relationship with Ukraine and has actually been talking about these energy issues for some time. Vice President Biden traveled to Ukraine in 2009, and one of the items at the top of the agenda was efforts by the United States to work with Ukraine to help them reduce their dependence on Russian sources of energy, to help them reform their energy sector, to improve efficiency, to improve energy security in Ukraine. So this is a complicated issue, one that we’ve been coordinating with the Ukrainians on for quite some time.

So I think that mostly answers your question, but for a more detailed answer, I’d refer you to the Department of Energy.

Q Just related to that, did this come up in the call last night with the Prime Minister? Because I know that it’s been really important for Japan to build a strong relationship with Russia for natural gas. Was the President able to give any assurances to the Prime Minister about this?

MR. EARNEST: I don’t want to get into a more detailed readout beyond what we issued last night and early this morning. But I will say that the executive order that the President issued yesterday put in place a structure where sanctions could be implemented. As Jay discussed during the briefing, no specific organizations have been targeted at this point, but that process is underway. So there’s no immediate impact from the sanctions that the President has considered in terms of interrupting anybody’s access to Russian sources of energy.

What sanctions we’ll be focused on are individuals and entities that have interfered with or played a prominent role in interfering with the sovereignty of Ukraine. And those are the individuals and entities that will be targeted. And when we have additional announcements on that, we will. Let me just end this answer by saying that, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that Prime Minister Abe is committed, or voiced to the President his commitment to closely coordinating with the international community and with the other countries in the G7 in standing up for the principle of respecting state sovereignty and the territorial integrity of independent nations.

- more -

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/07/press-gaggle-principal-deputy-press-secretary-josh-earnest-en-route-flor

Udall pushes natural gas exports measure amid Ukraine crisis
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024618622

[Catherina]

7. K&R. This is important n/t

[KoKo]

9. Kick for Enviornmental concerns...and

I saw one of the Pauls wants us to frack the USA to aid Ukraine posted here on DU. So, this is serious news for those of us who oppose the Keystone Pipeline and Fracking in general.