Obama could put heat on drillers but stall gas exports

(Before It's News)

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Barack Obama could toughen regulations on producing and burning natural gas, coal and oil early in his second term, raising some costs for energy companies, analysts said.

The president likely will take far longer to decide whether the United States should export its newfound shale oil and gas bounty. Opponents warn that exports would spike fuel costs for consumers and undermine a domestic manufacturing recovery.

Obama slowed regulation of fossil fuels during his campaign against Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who ran on expanding drilling and letting states dominate oil and gas regulation. Obama streamlined regulation on drilling for natural gas from shale and delayed finalizing rules on mercury emissions from power plants. The light touch may have helped the president gain support from voters anxious about jobs in gas-rich Pennsylvania and Ohio.

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