We need more LNG because the nation’s demand for natural gas is greater than the current domestic supply.  Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Energy is forecasting a 20% increase in natural gas demand over the next 25 years.  Already 15% of the natural gas we use today is imported, primarily from Canada, and in 2030, we’ll have to raise this to 21% if we are to have any chance of meeting the nation’s demand.   

Currently, we fill most of our supply gap with imports from Canada.  However, relying on Canadian gas as we have been will no longer work.  Canada’s natural gas production is forecasted to decrease and Canadians are using more and more of their own natural gas for extracting oil from oil sands in Western Alberta and to achieving lower emissions from electric power plants. 

That means we have to turn to other countries where natural gas is abundant, like Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Russia and Qatar.  The only way to bring it from there to here is to cool it to -260° F so that the natural gas becomes LNG that can be transported overseas in specially designed ships.