Jon Wellinghoff, partner at law firm Stoel Rives LLP, recently discussed gas export licensing with Tom Campbell, director of LNG and gassification at Stratas Advisors, a Hart Energy company. Wellinghoff said that accelerating the licensing process would enable the U.S. to get ahead of the market for exporting. The market for exported gas will increase "substantially" in the next five to seven years, he said, noting that the companies who are first in with the first contracts will benefit.