Sen. Murkowski opens panel at 27th World Gas Conference touting US natural gas supplies
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) opened a panel discussion at the 27th World Gas Conference this week and took the opportunity to promote U.S. natural gas as a means of helping the world.
Before a room of policymakers and energy industry experts from all over the world, Murkowski — the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources — touted the massive supplies of natural gas at hand in the United States. Noting that the country is now the largest producer of natural gas worldwide, she said that such supplies could, if used appropriately, help the world achieve universal access to sustainable energy.
“Access to energy is fundamental to reducing poverty, improving health, increasing productivity, and promoting economic growth,” Murkowski said. “It shapes our quality of life – how we will live, how well we will live, and even how long we will live.”
Murkowski’s stance was buoyed by a proposed Alaska LNG project, which would provide more than 20 million metric tons of natural gas per year. Such huge gains would help the United States meet global demand, she said.
“We’re working hard to get that project going,” Murkowski said. “Global access to sustainable energy is finally within our reach – and it’s a privilege to be here, to kick off this discussion, as we think about ways to finally make it a reality.”
