Keep U.S. gas at home, Markey says

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Keeping more of the natural gas produced in the United States in the domestic market could help lower prices across the board, a lawmaker said.

U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said he introduced two bills aimed at curbing exports of U.S. natural gas.

"This is America's natural gas and it should stay here in America," he said in a statement.

One bill would require that natural gas produced from federal land be sold to U.S. consumers. The other measure would prevent regulators from approving new export terminals.

Markey said if energy companies get their way, as much as 18 percent of U.S. natural gas supplies could be exported.

He claims the natural gas boom in the United States is pushing the economy from coal while driving down energy prices for farmers, chemical companies and other economic sectors.

"Whether it's through a pipeline or a shipping tanker, we shouldn't allow our domestic natural gas to be siphoned off to Asia, Europe or other markets when it's needed here in the United States," he said.