Obama could put heat on drillers but stall gas exports

November 8, 2012 • The Hamilton Project • Energy & Environment

Analysts expect President Obama will pursue tougher energy regulations early in his second term, but say he is likely to put off a decision on natural gas exports, according to an article in Reuters by Timothy Gardner. Many opponents of natural gas exports say it could lead to increased fuel costs and conflict with domestic manufacturing efforts. Michael Levi of the Council on Foreign Relations in a Hamilton Project discussion paper, "A Strategy for U.S. Natural Gas Exports,” poses a framework for regulators to determine if exporting natural gas is in the public interest, arguing the upsides of exports outweigh the costs as long as the government acts to mitigate risk. Read the full paper here.