Energy Dept. Praises Exports Of ‘Freedom Gas,’ ‘Molecules Of US Freedom’

COMMERCE CITY CO - MAY 1: There is growing concerns over the amount of hydrogen cyanide gas that is pumped out of SunCor Energy Refinery on May 1, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The ... COMMERCE CITY CO - MAY 1: There is growing concerns over the amount of hydrogen cyanide gas that is pumped out of SunCor Energy Refinery on May 1, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The Department of Energy issued a press release on Tuesday that quoted officials praising “freedom gas” and “molecules of U.S. freedom.”

The statement begins with a relatively milquetoast announcement on new exports of natural gas produced in Quintana Island, Texas.

Then the release quotes U.S. Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes as saying: “Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America’s allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy.”

After which Steven Winberg, the assistant secretary for fossil energy, says: “With the U.S. in another year of record-setting natural gas production, I am pleased that the Department of Energy is doing what it can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of U.S. freedom to be exported to the world.”

Ellen Gilmer, a reporter for the environmental trade news outlet E&E News, was the first to flag the bizarre email.

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