If elected president, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, would make a natural gas pipeline from Alaska a priority, but would limit lower 48 gas development on federal lands and offshore to areas that are currently open.

In an interview for the American Gas Association’s (AGA) June issue of its American Gas magazine, Kerry said he would support improvements for the natural gas transportation infrastructure and would enter into a new “North American Energy Partnership” with Canada and Mexico, which he believes would expand the supply of natural gas.

But, “I believe that additional oil and gas development should be prioritized around lands that are already open to drilling, but which have not yet been developed. I would encourage production from already-leased lands first, before opening up new areas to leasing.” That applies to offshore as well. “I support the moratorium on oil and gas drilling offshore of California and on the eastern seaboard, and I will not open up new areas off the coast of Florida to oil and gas production,” he told AGA.

Kerry’s stance on LNG was cautious, noting that it “presents challenges….We must work to find technology applications that make LNG more readily available and protect surrounding communities from unnecessary risks.”

The Democratic presidential candidate endorsed a balanced energy program, including nuclear power and clean coal. His energy platform includes the promise that “within a decade America will no longer have to rely on Middle East oil.”

Responding to AGA questions, Kerry said he would support consumer education as to energy costs and benefits. “We need a president who is honest with the American people about how we develop energy policy and about the costs and tradeoffs that are part of our current approach.”

The full text of the interview is available on the AGA website at www.aga.org.

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