Latest News

United States court orders federal regulators to examine emissions of Louisiana LNG project

A U.S. court on Tuesday purchased federal regulators to reassess the effect of greenhouse gas emissions from Commonwealth LNG's Louisiana liquefied natural gas task, possibly slowing full approvals for the venture. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia did not overturn the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 2022 approval of the project as it purchased the agency to reevaluate the emissions after ecological groups had taken legal action against saying they were not taken seriously.

We believe it 'reasonably most likely' that on remand, the Commission can redress the defects in its (greenhouse gas). emissions and cumulative-effects analysis and still license. the Project, the court stated in its decision.

5 ecological groups including the Natural Resources. Defense Council took legal action against FERC over the approval, stating it did not. take climate and air contamination dangers seriously when it authorized. the job in November 2022.

Commonwealth has actually not made a last financial investment choice (FID). yet. If established, the job is expected to start delivering 9.5. million tonnes a year of LNG from Cameron, Louisiana, in 2028.

Lyle Hanna, a Commonwealth spokesperson, stated the business. will work with FERC during the reassessment which it expects. a FID in the first half of 2025.

Private equity firm Kimmeridge, through its subsidiary. Kimmeridge Texas Gas, got a 90% stake in Commonwealth LNG,. it said in June.

In the 2022 approval, Democratic members of FERC had actually noted. issues about the effect of emissions linked to warming the. planet and on communities frequently exposed to other types of. pollution, stating the terminal would produce the equivalent of. about 3.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

However they authorized the project, saying federal natural gas. law requires FERC to authorize centers unless they are contrary. to the general public interest.

The NRDC said the ruling will assist ensure an truthful. evaluation by FERC. This judgment underscores what we have said. for many years: FERC continues to violate bedrock national. environmental legal responsibilities to examine the neighborhood and. environment impacts of LNG projects, said Caroline Reiser, a lawyer. at the not-for-profit.

It was unclear whether the choice might postpone any start of. the project, but it might delay another needed approval. ClearView Energy Partners, a nonpartisan research study group, said. the Department of Energy, which has the power to authorize exports. to major global markets from the Commonwealth job, may not. act while FERC is reevaluating the emissions effect.

(source: Reuters)