Commonwealth LNG terminal receives unanimous approval from U.S. energy regulators

The Commonwealth LNG, LLC liquefied natural gas terminal on the coast of Louisiana was unanimously cleared by US energy regulators on Thursday, despite Democratic members’ worries about its effect on greenhouse gas emissions and communities that are constantly exposed to pollution.
The Commonwealth LNG project was the first to be authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in more than two years. It is anticipated to export 8.4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from Cameron, Louisiana. LNG shipping is anticipated to start in 2027.
The FERC, which has five current members and is headed by Democrat Rich Glick, said the panel must authorize LNG terminals under federal natural gas law unless doing so would be against the interests of the general public.
Even still, Glick expressed concern over the terminal’s projected 3.5 million tons of annual carbon emissions.
“I still am at a loss as to why we don’t at least assess the significance of the greenhouse gas emissions in terms of making our determination … and I think it is something we need to grapple with as we move forward,” he said.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s soldiers invaded Ukraine on February 24, LNG from the United States has emerged as a major substitute for gas from Russia in many European nations.
The project was approved by the other two Democratic commissioners, but they expressed worry about the project’s potential to pollute minority neighborhoods close to the site.
According to environmentalists, the rush to export gas may drive up gas prices for domestic customers. According to Cathy Collentine, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, “FERC’s decision is not in the public interest for people who use gas to heat their homes and will only further pollute environmental justice communities on the Gulf Coast overburdened by pollution that harms their environment and makes them sick.”

Source: Reuters

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