[I begin with a point of personal privilege.  The whole to do regarding: Ted, Tim, and these T-shirts is just scandalous. Nevertheless it makes for a humorous respite from the dreary tropical weather that descends on our neck of the woods during the summer season.  Mr. President and Mr. President-elect, you have given new meaning to the adage: Been there.  Done that.  Read the book.  Saw the movie. Bought the T-shirt. Bless both your hearts.]

 

This past week we were treated to an interesting program by Mr. Jason French, Senior Director for Government & Public Affairs with Cheniere Energy.  This was Jason’s third opportunity to speak to our club and in my humble opinion, he did not disappoint.  His rapid-fire, energetic and humorous presentation did little to conceal the significant amount of knowledge he commands and easily accesses. 

 

Jason described (further described actually) the process and progress of the “energy revolution” and Cheniere Energy’s role in that revolution.  Over the past 10 - 12 years we have transformed our natural gas industry from one of importation to one of exportation.  This 180° shift was not merely a “retrofit” of the plants at Sabine Pass and in Southwest Louisiana; but a $20 billion investment, making it the single largest investment by a business in history of the United States.  (With $20 billion, we can build 40 – 50 NRG football stadiums.  That’s a lot of shekels.)

 

This revolution has turned the United States into an energy superpower.  This achievement, according to Mr. French has “influenced” the “fluctuation and instability” in the world energy market.  It should come as no surprise that OPEC and Saudi Arabia are not thrilled with our energy independence, nor with our burgeoning LNG (liquefied natural gas) export business.

 

The worldwide demand for natural gas continues to grow at a rapid pace.  Currently 19 “cargoes” of LNG have been shipped all over the world by Cheniere Energy.  The completion of the Panama Canal widening project now makes it possible for LNG ships to head west more easily and develop more markets around the globe.  Over the next 20 years, the goal at Cheniere Energy is to capture 80% of the overseas LNG market. These goals are lofty, feasible and attainable, not to mention impressive.

 

At the conclusion of his remarks, Jason French quoted an old adage: “There are decades when nothing happens; there are weeks when decades happen.”  Right now at Cheniere Energy on the Gulf in Southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, decades are happening every week, and the future looks bright.