But manufacturers fear price spikes, and lawmakers, including Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), remain skeptical of exporting the U.S.'s own natural resources. Wyden has scheduled his first hearing as chairman on the issue on Feb. 12.

Still others are concerned about the environmental impacts of exporting LNG. The Energy Information Administration reports that 63% of exported natural gas will come from new production, mostly from wells drilled using hydraulic fracturing. Even an additional 6 bcf a day will lead to a 5% increase in hydraulic fracturing, says Craig Segall of the Sierra Club.

After an initial commenting period on NERA's macroeconomic study as well as a comment period that ends on Feb. 25, DOE will consider the comments and the studies before deciding on whether to allow developers to export LNG. Once that approval is received, the developers have to undergo a costly and lengthy permitting process through the FERC before they can export LNG.

Greg Hopper, managing director of Black & Veatch's natural-gas consulting practice, says his company expects DOE will approve additional LNG terminals. "The price impacts of more than 6 bcfs a day are sustainable within the market. But there will be far fewer than what's been proposed," Hopper says.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and energy analyst Daniel Yergin told a House energy subcommittee panel on Feb. 5 that of the export terminals proposed, fewer than six ultimately will be built.

Fearing a DOE-placed cap on the amount of exports allowed, Hopper says Black & Veatch clients are rushing to get their foot in the door before DOE completely shuts it.

Hopper says there are many feasibility studies in development on LNG facilities of all sizes in all coastal regions.

But Hopper and others agree that facilities along the Gulf Coast and those with existing infrastructure—Sabine Pass, for instance, originally was built as an LNG import terminal—will have an edge over other plans.

While some proposed expansions along the East and West coasts may gain the clearances necessary to move forward, there are more environmental and infrastructure issues at those locations. The Gulf Coast already is close to an ample supply of natural gas. Donovan says Fluor is actively tracking seven projects in the U.S. that have good prospects.

Black & Veatch is working with the state of Alaska to develop an LNG terminal there. That project has a large supply of stranded natural gas that could be easily shipped to Japan. The cost to build the pipeline from the fields to the terminal and to build the terminal in the rugged Alaskan conditions, though, would come at a premium cost.