- U.S. energy producers could begin exporting liquefied natural gas within the next five years.
- Several companies are already investing billions of dollars to convert import terminals along the Gulf Coast into LNG export facilities.
- LNG exports could increase even further as technology advances.
Policy Issues and Transparency
Public acceptance of gas expansion in the United States could hinge on public policy and industry transparency, Lincoln said.
He suggested that states adopt severance or production taxes that could be used to rebuild areas impacted by shale gas development. This includes investments in roadways damaged by trucks and land reclamation.
Fracking itself does not pose a contamination danger, but surface contamination does need to be addressed through policy and regulation, Lincoln said. He recommended closed-loop systems that prevent fracking waste from touching the ground.
The oil and gas industry has taken steps to make itself more transparent to the public but could do a better job of educating people through more aggressive public relations campaigns, Lincoln told IW.
