Consumer Energy Alliance Announces New Report on Impacts of Increased Production and Infrastructure in Colorado and Utah’s Piceance and Uinta Basins

Report Spotlights How Abundant Gas Resources Will Drive Economic and
Environmental Benefits

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LNG?src=hash" target="_blank"gt;#LNGlt;/agt;–Consumer
Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading consumer advocate for energy,
today released a report on “Natural
Gas Markets for the Western States and Tribal Nations,”
detailing how abundant natural gas resources in the Piceance and Uinta
basins of Colorado and Utah can help regional and global communities
thrive economically and environmentally — if more production and
infrastructure expansion efforts are approved.

“The Piceance-Uinta Basin has a unique advantage over other U.S. and
Canadian conventional and shale production areas, which is its abundant
and available pipeline export capacity throughout the western U.S.,” Andrew
Browning, Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Energy Alliance said.

“Western States and Tribal Nations (WSTN), a newly formed advocacy
group, is facilitating conversations between the natural gas industry,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, conservation groups, tribes,
outdoor recreation groups and other relevant participants — all of whom
want to learn how more energy production and pipelines can benefit
Colorado, Utah, the sovereign Ute Indian Tribe and neighboring states,
regions, the nation and other countries — fiscally and environmentally,”
Browning added.

Dr. Laura Nelson, Utah Governor’s energy advisor and executive
director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Development, said, “Utah
is committed to creating win-win outcomes for economies, locally and
globally, by forging strategic partnerships to advance new pathways for
the western states and tribal nations’ abundant natural gas resources
through key infrastructure development and greater market access
abroad.” She added: “As demand for LNG continues to increase in emerging
markets throughout the Asia Pacific region, we’re poised to play a
pivotal role for providing energy solutions that drive greater economic
and environmental results.”

Per the analysis, titled “Development and Export of Natural Gas
Resources from the Piceance-Uinta Basin,” LNG exports produced from the
basins could add as much as $92.7 billion in annual U.S. GDP through
2050 and as much as $3.26 trillion in cumulative benefits through 2050.
LNG exports would also help sustain as many as 432,900 U.S. jobs
annually through 2050.

Local economies would benefit most. Using a formula outlined in a 2013
study by consulting firm ICF International — a report which estimated
the value of LNG exports for each state, including producing and
manufacturing returns — Colorado can expect an estimated $6 billion in
revenue and about 38,000 jobs. Utah could see $4 billion in revenue and
approximately 15,000 jobs.

The Ute Tribal Business Committee stated, “Through the
construction of liquefied natural gas pipelines and a west coast export
terminal, such as the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal, Ute
Energy can gain access to new energy markets that will alleviate the
ongoing marketing and sales inefficiencies. This would also increase the
Ute Indian Tribe’s income and assist in its ongoing efforts of economic
development and providing essential services for its tribal members.”

“Our counties are committed to marketing our natural gas resources to
Asia and other countries, to help stabilize economies in western
Colorado and aid in the geopolitical stabilization of America’s allies
abroad,” said Rose Pugliese, Mesa County Commissioner.

LNG — a cleaner-burning fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas
emissions and produces negligible sulfur, mercury and particulate
emissions — supports the integration of renewable energy resources. This
is a primary reason why more countries are using LNG as a power
generation fuel. Case in point: Strong, soaring demand for LNG in the
Pacific Basin has resulted in new Asian markets for Piceance-Uinta Basin
natural gas production, per CEA’s
report. By using more U.S.-produced LNG, consumers in the Asian
markets are reducing industry-related emissions and lowering energy
costs, a must in the fight against poverty.

“What we do here in the Rockies, the decisions we make about energy
development, don’t just affect us; they reverberate around the world,”
Browning said. “This is an opportunity for us to help bring Rockies-made
energy resources to countries across Asia who are eager for access and
looking for energy markets to meet that need.”

The WSTN study, compiled by Colorado Mesa University’s Unconventional
Energy Center, was commissioned by the Colorado Energy Office under
former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Utah Governor’s Office of
Energy Development, and the sovereign Ute Indian Tribe. These
stakeholders have recently been joined by the following Colorado
counties: Garfield, Mesa Moffat and Rio Blanco.

To view the report, click
here.

About Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer
Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy,
bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors,
producers and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally
sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide,
our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for
households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to
encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic and
environmentally responsible solutions to meeting our energy needs.

Contacts

Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org