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Interesting discussion at the Atlantic Council last week on an array of opportunities in front of the United States provided by the domestic energy revolution specifically, benefits to consumers, the environment and to U.S. trade from abundant, clean-burning natural gas, all of which depend on infrastructure support to go forward.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes shipped this year from Cheniere's new Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana give evidence of surging natural gas production and a global market for U.S. LNG. These exports help support domestic output, they help increase U.S. energy security and they provide supply options for friends abroad. Paula Gant, the U.S. Energy Department's principal deputy assistant secretary, Office of International Affairs:

Before even the first of the seven cargoes left Sabine Pass the potential availability of U.S. LNG was already having a disruptive influence on the balance of power between producers and consumers. We expect that disruptive influence to continue, and that is good for our energy security and that of our trading partners and allies globally.â€

Even so, this wonderful domestic energy abundance and the global LNG market opportunities could be impacted by challenges facing infrastructure expansion here at home. America needs more energy infrastructure to move domestic supply to all areas of the country, for residential consumers, power generators and manufacturers. Yet, without stronger high-level backing, we could see these infrastructure needs delayed or rejected, as occurred last month with the proposed Constitution natural gas pipeline in New York.

Americans overwhelmingly support more energy infrastructure, and there appears to be bipartisan consensus for it in Congress. But infrastructure projects are being targeted by a vocal minority even though increased domestic use...