In Washington D.C., Florida Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Texas Congressman August Pfluger introduced a bill to codify a recent Department of Energy rule on LNG bunkering.
The Cutting LNG Bunkering Red Tape Act would enshrine in law a February 2025 DOE decision that ship-to-ship transfers of liquefied natural gas used as marine fuel are not considered exports under the Natural Gas Act, unless they occur in foreign waters.
The rule overturned a December 2024 policy that had classified domestic bunkering as an export activity, triggering federal licensing and review. While the Biden-era interpretation is no longer in force, it remains vulnerable to future reversal.
The bill would eliminate that uncertainty. By placing the DOE’s current interpretation into statute, Congress would prevent agencies from reclassifying bunkering operations through regulatory shifts.
JAX LNG in Jacksonville, one of the nation’s leading bunkering hubs, previously faced delays under the earlier classification. The legislation aims to ensure that similar operations remain exempt from export controls, regardless of changes in administration.
The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
