Commissioner Sola Discusses LNG at AAPA Legislative Summit 

Commissioner Louis E. Sola participated on a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Exports panel at the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Legislative Summit held in Washington, D.C. from March 18-21, 2024.

Commissioner Sola highlighted the importance of LNG in reducing carbon emissions, stating, “LNG can reduce carbon emissions by 20-30% compared to traditional fossil fuels”.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for federal support and funding to transition towards maritime decarbonization. The Commissioner highlighted that the Federal Aviation Administration received $15 billion for airport infrastructure and sustainability projects in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The maritime industry requires similar support from the federal government to achieve meaningful reductions in carbon emissions.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. exported over 2.7 trillion cubic feet of LNG in 2020. This statistic reflects the pivotal role of LNG exports in the maritime industry and the sector’s reliance on volumes and revenue generated from LNG.

The Legislative Summit provided a platform for industry experts to discuss the government’s role in LNG exports and the future trajectory of LNG within the maritime industry.

Commissioner Sola joined the LNG Exports panel held on March 20. Other panelists were Sue Forrester, Vice President, Advocacy and Outreach, American Gas Association (AGA); Rodger Rees, Port Director, Port of Galveston; and Melissa Folse, Deputy Director, Port of Plaquemines.

Louis E. Sola is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are his own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.

Panelists (L-R) Melissa Folse, Sue Forrester, Louis Sola, and Rodger Rees.