Energy, Trade & Environment
Susan's publications and research interests are centered around energy, trade and the environment. Her work explores the intersections of law, policy and economics and is primarily focused on issues of international interest and significance, such as global LNG markets, global shale gas development, international trade under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and a variety of issues related to the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.
Some of her papers can be downloaded for free from her Social Science Research Network (SSRN) author homepage: http://ssrn.com/author=1262789.
Some of her papers can be downloaded for free from her Social Science Research Network (SSRN) author homepage: http://ssrn.com/author=1262789.
U.S. LNG Exports
Susan's current work is focused on LNG markets and the prospects for U.S. LNG exports. In addition to extensive coverage of this issue in her book, some of her publications related to U.S. LNG exports are listed below. Please also see below for a general discussion about the LNG export approval process and links to key documents.
Susan L. Sakmar, Reply Brief Submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Response to NERA Economic Study (Feb. 24, 2013) posted as Comment # 168 at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/export_study/reply_comments/Susan_Sakmar02_25_13_Redacted.pdf
US LNG Exports: March Madness and the Road to the Final Four Projects, Natural Gas Europe, http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/us-lng-exports-final-four-projects. (this article includes in exclusive "March Madness Bracket" for the top 16 U.S. LNG Export projects).
America’s Natural Gas: From Shale Gas to LNG Exports, 3 Harv. Bus. L. Rev. Online 22 (2012), http://www.hblr.org/?p=2572.
Politics and US LNG Export Projects Heat Up, Natural Gas & Electricity Journal, 29:1-9, Wiley Periodicals, Oct. 2012, available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gas.21636/abstract
From Shale Gas to LNG Exports: What Should America Do With Its Natural Gas? Sanford Energy Club Journal, available at energyclub.stanford.edu/journal
Breaking News (August 7, 2013): DOE Approves 3rd LNG Export Project - Lake Charles
Breaking News (May 17, 2013): DOE Approves 2nd LNG Export Project - Freeport LNG
According to a news release issued by Freeport LNG, the Energy Department (DOE) has conditionally authorized Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (FLEX) to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States from the Freeport LNG Terminal on Quintana Island, Texas. Freeport previously received approval to export LNG from this facility to FTA countries on February 10, 2011. Subject to environmental review and final regulatory approval, the facility is conditionally authorized to export at a rate of up to 1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day (Bcf/d) for a period of 20 years. The Department granted the first authorization to export LNG to non-FTA countries in May 2011 for the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana at a rate of up to 2.2 Bcf/d.
The DOE's full conditional authorization can be found at http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/05/f0/ord3282.pdf
About the DOE Export Approval Process:
As part of a broader effort to further inform decisions related to LNG exports, the DOE commissioned NERA Economic Consulting to conduct a third party study in order to gain a better understanding of how U.S. LNG exports could affect the public interest, with an emphasis on the energy and manufacturing sectors. The DOE released that study on December 5, 2012 and made it available for public review and comment. The DOE also posted the final NERA report into the pending export application dockets. The report and resulting comments will be taken into consideration as the Department makes its public interest determinations in each case.
U.S. Federal law generally requires approval of natural gas exports to countries that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. For countries that do not have a free trade agreement (so called non-FTA countries) with the U.S., the DOE is required to grant applications for export authorizations unless the Department finds that the proposed exports "will not be consistent with the public interest." Factors for consideration include economic, energy security, and environmental impacts.
The DOE has indicated it will begin to act on the applications on a case-by-case basis. The Energy Department expects to act first upon applications for which the applicants have commenced the pre-filing process at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as of December 5, 2012, in the general order in which the Department received them. The FERC pre-filing list of 16 projects can be found here: Order of Precedence for Processing Non-FTA Application.
Following disposition of those applications that have pre-filed with FERC, the Energy Department expects to act upon the rest of the pending applications – and any others submitted - in the order received. The full list of U.S. LNG export applications can be found here: Summary of LNG Export Applications
Other DOE documents related to U.S. LNG exports can be downloaded here:
Federal Register Notice of Availability of the LNG Export Study [209KB PDF]
EIA Analysis (Study - Part 1) [2.48MB PDF]
NERA Economic Consulting Analysis (Study - Part 2) [4MB PDF]
Summary of LNG Export Applications [117KB PDF]
Order of Precedence for Processing Non-FTA Applications [15KB PDF]
Initial Comments
Reply Comments
Procedural Order, January 28, 2013 [371KB PDF]
Susan L. Sakmar, Reply Brief Submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Response to the NERA Economic
Study (LNG Study) (Feb. 24, 2013) posted as Comment # 168 at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/export_study/reply_comments/Susan_Sakmar02_25_13_Redacted.pdf
Other Publications by Susan on LNG include:
The Golden Age of Gas: Opportunities and Challenges for LNG as a Fuel for the 21st Century, Paper Published with the 25th World Gas Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4-8 June 2012, http://www.wgc2012.com/welcome/world-gas-conference-2012.html.
Environmental Sustainability and the Role of LNG in a Carbon Constrained World, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Gas Processing Symposium, Elsevier B.V. (Pub.) (June 2010), available at Science Direct, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876014710020100
The Globalization of LNG Markets: Historical Context, Current Trends and Prospects for the Future, Proceedings of the 1st Annual Gas Processing Symposium, Elsevier B.V. (Pub.) (2009), available at Science Direct, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444532923500079.
Susan L. Sakmar, Reply Brief Submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Response to NERA Economic Study (Feb. 24, 2013) posted as Comment # 168 at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/export_study/reply_comments/Susan_Sakmar02_25_13_Redacted.pdf
US LNG Exports: March Madness and the Road to the Final Four Projects, Natural Gas Europe, http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/us-lng-exports-final-four-projects. (this article includes in exclusive "March Madness Bracket" for the top 16 U.S. LNG Export projects).
America’s Natural Gas: From Shale Gas to LNG Exports, 3 Harv. Bus. L. Rev. Online 22 (2012), http://www.hblr.org/?p=2572.
Politics and US LNG Export Projects Heat Up, Natural Gas & Electricity Journal, 29:1-9, Wiley Periodicals, Oct. 2012, available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gas.21636/abstract
From Shale Gas to LNG Exports: What Should America Do With Its Natural Gas? Sanford Energy Club Journal, available at energyclub.stanford.edu/journal
Breaking News (August 7, 2013): DOE Approves 3rd LNG Export Project - Lake Charles
Breaking News (May 17, 2013): DOE Approves 2nd LNG Export Project - Freeport LNG
According to a news release issued by Freeport LNG, the Energy Department (DOE) has conditionally authorized Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (FLEX) to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States from the Freeport LNG Terminal on Quintana Island, Texas. Freeport previously received approval to export LNG from this facility to FTA countries on February 10, 2011. Subject to environmental review and final regulatory approval, the facility is conditionally authorized to export at a rate of up to 1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day (Bcf/d) for a period of 20 years. The Department granted the first authorization to export LNG to non-FTA countries in May 2011 for the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana at a rate of up to 2.2 Bcf/d.
The DOE's full conditional authorization can be found at http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/05/f0/ord3282.pdf
About the DOE Export Approval Process:
As part of a broader effort to further inform decisions related to LNG exports, the DOE commissioned NERA Economic Consulting to conduct a third party study in order to gain a better understanding of how U.S. LNG exports could affect the public interest, with an emphasis on the energy and manufacturing sectors. The DOE released that study on December 5, 2012 and made it available for public review and comment. The DOE also posted the final NERA report into the pending export application dockets. The report and resulting comments will be taken into consideration as the Department makes its public interest determinations in each case.
U.S. Federal law generally requires approval of natural gas exports to countries that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. For countries that do not have a free trade agreement (so called non-FTA countries) with the U.S., the DOE is required to grant applications for export authorizations unless the Department finds that the proposed exports "will not be consistent with the public interest." Factors for consideration include economic, energy security, and environmental impacts.
The DOE has indicated it will begin to act on the applications on a case-by-case basis. The Energy Department expects to act first upon applications for which the applicants have commenced the pre-filing process at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as of December 5, 2012, in the general order in which the Department received them. The FERC pre-filing list of 16 projects can be found here: Order of Precedence for Processing Non-FTA Application.
Following disposition of those applications that have pre-filed with FERC, the Energy Department expects to act upon the rest of the pending applications – and any others submitted - in the order received. The full list of U.S. LNG export applications can be found here: Summary of LNG Export Applications
Other DOE documents related to U.S. LNG exports can be downloaded here:
Federal Register Notice of Availability of the LNG Export Study [209KB PDF]
EIA Analysis (Study - Part 1) [2.48MB PDF]
NERA Economic Consulting Analysis (Study - Part 2) [4MB PDF]
Summary of LNG Export Applications [117KB PDF]
Order of Precedence for Processing Non-FTA Applications [15KB PDF]
Initial Comments
Reply Comments
Procedural Order, January 28, 2013 [371KB PDF]
Susan L. Sakmar, Reply Brief Submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Response to the NERA Economic
Study (LNG Study) (Feb. 24, 2013) posted as Comment # 168 at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/export_study/reply_comments/Susan_Sakmar02_25_13_Redacted.pdf
Other Publications by Susan on LNG include:
The Golden Age of Gas: Opportunities and Challenges for LNG as a Fuel for the 21st Century, Paper Published with the 25th World Gas Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4-8 June 2012, http://www.wgc2012.com/welcome/world-gas-conference-2012.html.
Environmental Sustainability and the Role of LNG in a Carbon Constrained World, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Gas Processing Symposium, Elsevier B.V. (Pub.) (June 2010), available at Science Direct, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876014710020100
The Globalization of LNG Markets: Historical Context, Current Trends and Prospects for the Future, Proceedings of the 1st Annual Gas Processing Symposium, Elsevier B.V. (Pub.) (2009), available at Science Direct, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444532923500079.
Global Shale Gas
Susan's work is also focused on global shale gas development and she is closely following developments in the regulatory and environmental aspects of shale gas development around the world. Some of her publications include:
Rest of the World Learning From US Shale Gas Experience, Natural Gas & Electricity Journal, Wiley Periodicals, Sept. 2012, available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/105559587.
Global Shale Gas Initiative: Will The United States Be The Role Model For The Development of Shale Gas Around The World? 33 Houston Journal of Int’l Law 369 (2011), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1927593.
Overview of Environmental Issues and US Regulatory Framework Pertaining to US Shale Gas Development, Shale Gas Information Platform (SHIP),(2012), http://www.shale-gas-information-platform.org/areas/expert-articles.html. The Shale Gas Information Platform relies on a network of international experts who share their expertise on different aspects of shale gas. The network is brought together by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Susan has presented on numerous shale gas topics at a variety of conferences around the world including:
A World of Opportunity: Will Shale Go Global?, CLE Program for Dufford & Brown, Oct. 25, 2012, Denver, CO.
Shale Gas and Renewables: Friends, Enemies or Frienemies?, Session Chair, BERC Energy Symposium, 19 Oct. 2012, Berkeley, CA, http://berc.berkeley.edu/symposium/.
The Future of Shale Gas: Global Opportunities, Global Challenges & Global Solutions, Presentation to the 26th Gastech Conference & Exhibition, 8-11 October 2012, London, UK, www.gastech.co.uk
Best-practices in unconventional gas project delivery: How do you overcome public concerns? Session Chair, 26th Gastech Conference & Exhibition, 8-11 October 2012, London, UK, www.gastech.co.uk
Environmental and Water Issues: Handling Concerns Among the Public and Stakeholders, Session Chair, CWC 3rd World Shale Oil & Gas Summit & Awards, 18-21 September 2012, Houston, TX. www.world-shale.com.
Resourcing the Shale Industry: Filling the Talent and Equipment Gaps, Session Chair, CWC 3rd World Shale Oil & Gas Summit & Awards, 18-21 September 2012, Houston, TX. www.world-shale.com.
Opportunities and Challenges for LNG in the Golden Age of Gas: The Prospects for US LNG Exports, Presentation to the 35th IAEE International Conference, Perth, Australia, June 24-27, 2012, www.iaeeperth2012.org.
Energising the Image of Gas, Panelist, 25th World Gas Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4-8 June 2012, http://www.wgc2012.com/welcome/world-gas-conference-2012.html.
The Age of Shale? Implications on Energy Industry, Economics and the Environment, Panelist, Stanford Energy Club, May 31, 2012, http://energyclub.stanford.edu
A Shift in Balance of Power? National v. Multi-National Legal Regimes Governing Energy Markets, Panelist, Striking the Right Balance: Energy Security in International Law, University of Georgia School of Law, February 3, 2012, Athens, Georgia, http://law.uga.edu/gjicl-conference.
Global Shale Gas Development: Opportunities, Challenges and Factors for Success, Presentation to the East Mediterranean and North African (EMNA) Gas Forum, 28-29 February 2012, Rome, Italy.
The Future of Global Gas Markets: The Golden Age of Natural Gas, Presentation to the Gas & Oil Expo, Calgary, Canada, June 7-9, 2011.
Shale Gas Development in North America: An Overview of the Regulatory and Environmental Challenges Facing the Industry, Presentation to the 2011 SPE North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 14-16 June 2011.
Regulatory and Environmental Challenges Pertaining to US Shale Gas and LNG Exports, Presentation to the Energy Bar Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, May 2011.
The Future of Unconventional Gas: Legal, Policy and Environmental Challenges to the Development of North American Shale Gas, Presentation to the 29th USAEE/IAEE North American Conference, Calgary, Canada, 14-16 October 2010.
The Future of Shale Gas: Legal, Policy and Environmental Challenges, Presentation to the Unconventional Gas International Conference and Exhibition, Ft. Worth, TX, Oct 5-7, 2010.
Rest of the World Learning From US Shale Gas Experience, Natural Gas & Electricity Journal, Wiley Periodicals, Sept. 2012, available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/105559587.
Global Shale Gas Initiative: Will The United States Be The Role Model For The Development of Shale Gas Around The World? 33 Houston Journal of Int’l Law 369 (2011), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1927593.
Overview of Environmental Issues and US Regulatory Framework Pertaining to US Shale Gas Development, Shale Gas Information Platform (SHIP),(2012), http://www.shale-gas-information-platform.org/areas/expert-articles.html. The Shale Gas Information Platform relies on a network of international experts who share their expertise on different aspects of shale gas. The network is brought together by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Susan has presented on numerous shale gas topics at a variety of conferences around the world including:
A World of Opportunity: Will Shale Go Global?, CLE Program for Dufford & Brown, Oct. 25, 2012, Denver, CO.
Shale Gas and Renewables: Friends, Enemies or Frienemies?, Session Chair, BERC Energy Symposium, 19 Oct. 2012, Berkeley, CA, http://berc.berkeley.edu/symposium/.
The Future of Shale Gas: Global Opportunities, Global Challenges & Global Solutions, Presentation to the 26th Gastech Conference & Exhibition, 8-11 October 2012, London, UK, www.gastech.co.uk
Best-practices in unconventional gas project delivery: How do you overcome public concerns? Session Chair, 26th Gastech Conference & Exhibition, 8-11 October 2012, London, UK, www.gastech.co.uk
Environmental and Water Issues: Handling Concerns Among the Public and Stakeholders, Session Chair, CWC 3rd World Shale Oil & Gas Summit & Awards, 18-21 September 2012, Houston, TX. www.world-shale.com.
Resourcing the Shale Industry: Filling the Talent and Equipment Gaps, Session Chair, CWC 3rd World Shale Oil & Gas Summit & Awards, 18-21 September 2012, Houston, TX. www.world-shale.com.
Opportunities and Challenges for LNG in the Golden Age of Gas: The Prospects for US LNG Exports, Presentation to the 35th IAEE International Conference, Perth, Australia, June 24-27, 2012, www.iaeeperth2012.org.
Energising the Image of Gas, Panelist, 25th World Gas Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4-8 June 2012, http://www.wgc2012.com/welcome/world-gas-conference-2012.html.
The Age of Shale? Implications on Energy Industry, Economics and the Environment, Panelist, Stanford Energy Club, May 31, 2012, http://energyclub.stanford.edu
A Shift in Balance of Power? National v. Multi-National Legal Regimes Governing Energy Markets, Panelist, Striking the Right Balance: Energy Security in International Law, University of Georgia School of Law, February 3, 2012, Athens, Georgia, http://law.uga.edu/gjicl-conference.
Global Shale Gas Development: Opportunities, Challenges and Factors for Success, Presentation to the East Mediterranean and North African (EMNA) Gas Forum, 28-29 February 2012, Rome, Italy.
The Future of Global Gas Markets: The Golden Age of Natural Gas, Presentation to the Gas & Oil Expo, Calgary, Canada, June 7-9, 2011.
Shale Gas Development in North America: An Overview of the Regulatory and Environmental Challenges Facing the Industry, Presentation to the 2011 SPE North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 14-16 June 2011.
Regulatory and Environmental Challenges Pertaining to US Shale Gas and LNG Exports, Presentation to the Energy Bar Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, May 2011.
The Future of Unconventional Gas: Legal, Policy and Environmental Challenges to the Development of North American Shale Gas, Presentation to the 29th USAEE/IAEE North American Conference, Calgary, Canada, 14-16 October 2010.
The Future of Shale Gas: Legal, Policy and Environmental Challenges, Presentation to the Unconventional Gas International Conference and Exhibition, Ft. Worth, TX, Oct 5-7, 2010.
Other Publications:
The Status of the Draft Iraq Oil and Gas Law, 30 Houston Journal of Int’l Law 289 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1931874.
Bringing Energy Trade Into the WTO: The Historical Context, Current Status, and Potential Implications for the Middle East Region, 18 Indiana Int’l & Comp. L. Rev. 89 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1995896.
Globalization and Trade Initiatives in the Arab World: Historical Context, Progress to Date, and Prospects for the Future, 42 Univ. of San Francisco L. Rev. 919 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1995898.
Free Trade and Sea Turtles: The International and Domestic Implications of the Shrimp-Turtles Case, 10 Colorado Journal of Int’l Environmental Law and Policy (1999), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1989186.
The Status of the Draft Iraq Oil and Gas Law, 30 Houston Journal of Int’l Law 289 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1931874.
Bringing Energy Trade Into the WTO: The Historical Context, Current Status, and Potential Implications for the Middle East Region, 18 Indiana Int’l & Comp. L. Rev. 89 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1995896.
Globalization and Trade Initiatives in the Arab World: Historical Context, Progress to Date, and Prospects for the Future, 42 Univ. of San Francisco L. Rev. 919 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1995898.
Free Trade and Sea Turtles: The International and Domestic Implications of the Shrimp-Turtles Case, 10 Colorado Journal of Int’l Environmental Law and Policy (1999), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1989186.
FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Sustainable Development and Environmental Challenges in The MENA Region: Accounting for The Environment In The 21st Century, Susan L. Sakmar, Mathis Wackernagel, Alessandro Galli, David Moore, (2011), available at http://www.erf.org.eg/cms.php?id=publication_details&publication_id=1388.
The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region faces a range of challenges to its long-term security and prosperity in the 21st century. Although many of the Region’s economic challenges have been widely analyzed, environmental challenges are rarely taken into consideration in the process of formulating economic policies in the MENA Region. This paper begins to address the major gaps in knowledge about the economics of the environment in the MENA Region and will analyze the most current literature and trends regarding sustainable resource management for the 21st century. (Funding provided by the Economic Research Forum (ERF), Cairo, Egypt)
The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region faces a range of challenges to its long-term security and prosperity in the 21st century. Although many of the Region’s economic challenges have been widely analyzed, environmental challenges are rarely taken into consideration in the process of formulating economic policies in the MENA Region. This paper begins to address the major gaps in knowledge about the economics of the environment in the MENA Region and will analyze the most current literature and trends regarding sustainable resource management for the 21st century. (Funding provided by the Economic Research Forum (ERF), Cairo, Egypt)