{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=382e7f99-1406-4e22-b682-badb90c1eca0", "Hatch, Matheson, Bishop, Chaffetz, Stewart Push For Application Approvals To Export More Natural Gas", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and U.S. Representatives Jim Matheson (UT-4), Rob Bishop (UT-1),\u00a0 Jason Chaffetz (UT-3), and Chris Stewart (UT-2) signed onto a letter sent to Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz urging support for pending applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. Currently, there are only two LNG export terminals proposed for the West Coast, which limits the amount of LNG that can be exported from Utah and other Western states.\u00a0\r\n\u201cRevenues to Rocky Mountain states, such as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, depend significantly on the production of energy resources within their borders,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe Department\u2019s approvals of LNG exports from east coast and Gulf coast facilities will encourage future natural gas production in eastern and Gulf coast communities. We believe the Department should provide the people of the Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity.\u201d\r\nIn addition to Hatch, Matheson, Bishop,\u00a0Chaffetz and Stewart, the letter was signed by seven other Members of Congress representing Western states.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below:\r\nNovember 12, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Ernest MonizSecretaryU.S. Department of Energy1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20585\r\nDear Secretary Moniz:\r\nWe write to express our support for Jordan Cove\u2019s application to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries. While we applaud the Department of Energy\u2019s approval of applications to export LNG from facilities located along the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico, it is imperative that the Department quickly review and act on applications to export LNG to non-FTA countries from facilities on the west coast. West coast facilities are essential to ensuring that Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes have greater access to international markets and thus the opportunity to enjoy the economic benefits of LNG exports.\u00a0\r\nRevenues to Rocky Mountain states, such as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, depend significantly on the production of energy resources within their borders. For example, in 2012, roughly 18 percent of the revenues to the State of Wyoming came from Federal mineral royalties and state severance taxes collected on natural gas production. Likewise, revenues to Indian tribes, such as the Ute Indian Tribe on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah, depend heavily on royalties and tribal severance taxes collected on natural gas production. The nation\u2019s supply of natural gas, however, is projected to soon exceed domestic demand. Consequently, companies have cancelled natural gas projects which has resulted in or is expected to result in less revenue to state and tribal governments and the creation of fewer jobs in our communities.\r\nWest coast LNG export facilities, such as Jordan Cove, would provide Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and Indian tribes, such as the Ute Indian Tribe, direct access to international markets.\u00a0 Specifically, Jordan Cove would allow gas shipped on the Ruby pipeline to be exported to Asian markets. Access to international markets is critical to ensuring that companies have the incentive to produce natural gas in the future. The Department\u2019s approvals of LNG exports from east coast and Gulf coast facilities will encourage future natural gas production in eastern and Gulf coast communities. We believe the Department should provide the people of the Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity. To that end, we ask that the Department expeditiously review and act on Jordan Cove\u2019s application to export LNG to non-FTA countries.\u00a0\r\nThank you for your consideration and we look forward to your prompt response.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=382e7f99-1406-4e22-b682-badb90c1eca0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.605771878734231, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}