WASHINGTON, D.C. – During an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) secured a commitment from Rick Perry, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, to visit the University of Maine in order to survey the impressive work done at the University in collaboration with the Department of Energy and other federal partners.

“Our University has a relationship to the Department of Energy labs – particularly Oak Ridge. In fact, Senator Collins and I are going to be there next week, a week from tomorrow, with people from Oak Ridge,” said Senator King. “[The University of Maine] is an amazing engineering school and engineering facility – offshore wind, testing facility, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and I think you would find it very illuminating, so would love to have you come up. If you want to come in more like June or July rather than February, I’ll accept that.”

In response, Perry said, “Yes, sir. I’ll be there, Senator.”

As part of the Economic Development Assistance Team (EDAT), which was originally requested by Senators King and Collins, to support Maine’s forest products industry, DOE and the Tennessee-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory have committed to collaborate with the University of Maine on the development of biobased materials for use in additive manufacturing, composites, and biofuels. The University of Maine and Department of Energy have also partnered on a number of other innovative initiatives, including Maine’s New England Aqua Ventus I offshore wind pilot project.

During today’s hearing, Senator King also pressed Perry on the importance of prioritizing low energy prices for the American people. Specifically, Senator King warned against increasing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has the potential to drive up the price of this critical source of energy here in America and detrimentally impact Mainers.

“This Congress cannot repeal the law of supply and demand. And there is no way in the world that [increasing natural gas exports] will not drastically and significantly affect domestic prices, which has been one of our advantages vis-à-vis the rest of the world in terms of bringing manufacturing back and sustaining our economy,” said Senator King. “The Natural Gas Act back in 1938 says that for the Department of Energy to issue a permit, it has to be in the public interest. My request of you is to be sure that the public interest definition includes effect on domestic prices.”

Senator King has repeatedly spoken out against increasing exports of LNG when more natural gas is desperately needed in Maine and across New England to help lower energy prices. In September 2016, he wrote a letter calling on the Department of Energy to slow the export of natural gas. He continues to argue that by increasing LNG exports, our country would be giving away one of our economic advantages to international competitors when that natural gas could instead be used domestically to benefit the country.

Last Congress, Senator King has introduced the Domestic Energy Security Protection Act, legislation that would cap the amount of natural gas exported from the United States to help preserve America’s advantage in the market and ensure that there is adequate supply available within the country. He also introduced the Regional Gas Consumer Protection Act last Congress, which would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider regional markets and provisions of benefit to regional consumers as part of its review of any proposal to export natural gas through Maine. In 2015, Senator King pressed current Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to use his department as a “federal quarterback” to help expand natural gas pipeline infrastructure throughout New England.

Video of Senator King’s questions in the Energy and Natural Resources hearing today is available HERE.

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