Nucor Corporation (NUE), Alcoa Inc (AA), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW): This Company Wants Natural Gas All to Itself

New friends, new nemeses
Before The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) became such a vocal voice against natural gas exports, it first needed to rid itself of any connections with natural gas exports. It has pledged that it would not participate in building export capacity at the Freeport LNG import facility, in which the company has a partial ownership stake. Dow has also terminated its membership in the National Association of Manufacturers after it announced its support for LNG exports.

Aside from being the leader of the America’s Energy Advantage coalition, the company has also spent about $10.5 million for lobbying last year. Much of its efforts have been geared at showing the economic benefits of keeping a lion’s share of natural gas here in the U.S. to use for manufacturing. According to the America’s Energy Advantage website, the difference between 5 billion cubic feet per day being used in the U.S. for manufacturing vs. exporting it is about $2.5 billion in economic activity for the U.S.. This lobbying effort has put Dow at odds with Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), which has previously been a strong partner in several lobbying endeavors.

Surprisingly, the company has also found themselves allied with environmental groups, who see natural gas as a means to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentally conscious House members have introduced bills in committee including the Keep American Natural Gas Here Act and the North American Natural Gas Security & Consumer Protection Act. While both groups may not have the same interest, at least they have the same foe.

What a Fool believes
The debate over natural gas exportation has taken several turns. And the longer the U.S. waits to make a definitive decision, the further LNG exports will fall behind competitively. As far as Dow is concerned, that may be all it needs to keep natural gas here.

After so many years of fretting over the fate of the U.S.’s domestic resources, it’s rather refreshing to have to debate about what to do with excess supply. Whatever side this debate lands on, there are benefits for the American economy.

The article Dow Chemical Wants Natural Gas All to Itself originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Tyler Crowe has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him at Fool.com under the handle TMFDirtyBird, on Google +, or on Twitter @TylerCroweFool.The Motley Fool recommends Nucor.

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