). This is also the primary reason the U.S is able to keep its gas prices down comparitively to (G7/G8) western countries....BUT, hopefully soon we can bump that $50/barrel price for our own benefit by getting China in on the buying end of things. 
The main reason the U.S is selling its own fuel (rather than use it)...is that its buying fuel from Canada cheaper than its selling its own for on the open market.
The U.S (currently) gets it oil from Canada for the equivalent of about $50 a barrel (a very good deal...much to our Canadian free trade chagrin
If the U.S converted its own fuel (in terms of market value) for its own use, U.S fuel prices would immediately rise.
As well, Canada supplies well over 60% of the U.S energy needs when you factor in natural gas, etc. We have a huge surplus of natural resources that we are trying to get in better order for world/market sale....no easy feat when you have the 2nd largest country in the world populated by only 33 million people...but we're workin' on it!!
BP
The main reason the U.S is selling its own fuel (rather than use it)...is that its buying fuel from Canada cheaper than its selling its own for on the open market.
The U.S (currently) gets it oil from Canada for the equivalent of about $50 a barrel (a very good deal...much to our Canadian free trade chagrin
If the U.S converted its own fuel (in terms of market value) for its own use, U.S fuel prices would immediately rise.
As well, Canada supplies well over 60% of the U.S energy needs when you factor in natural gas, etc. We have a huge surplus of natural resources that we are trying to get in better order for world/market sale....no easy feat when you have the 2nd largest country in the world populated by only 33 million people...but we're workin' on it!!
BP
The problem is technical and legal, not anybody sitting. To export natural gas it must be liquified in large quantities and then there must be loading terminals for LNG tankers. This country has been an importer of natural gas, so we actually have unloading terminals and large storage tanks near ports, not liquifiers. These are HUGE projects and require capital, hardware leadtime, real estate, permits etc. etc. It will happen, there is no conspiracy to block them, it's just a big flippin' deal.
One of the new players is actually a "new" application. On highway trucks will be a user of natural gas that will make a legitimate difference in domestic load. Cars are not the play, trucks are. This is not to say I endorse any of the public companies in that space at this point. While I work for one of them, most are WAY hyped and overvalued and we are a penny stock trying to catch that wave.
But that's just because of supply issues in certain parts of the country right? I know where I live, there is a ton of NG stores in the hills above my home in former oil wells and caverns.
