Venture Global LNG Inc.’s CP2 export facility has received the final federal approval, ending a more than 10-month wait for authorization.
In a 2-1 decision, FERC on Thursday approved the Virginia-based developer’s plans to build a 20 million metric tons/year (mmty) terminal in Cameron Parish, LA.
The project, which is sited near Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass liquefied natural gas facility, gained the status as the longest pending project before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the potential environmental impacts were scrutinized.
In May, FERC Chairman Willie Phillips confirmed that multiple requests for information to the company had delayed its review of the project.
Both European and Asian offtakers of CP2, as well as politicians and local community members, have participated in a letter campaign lobbying FERC to render a decision.
Democrat Allison Clements, in her final FERC meeting, opposed issuing the CP2 certificate. During her tenure with the Commission, Clements had been critical of FERC’s analysis of new export projects, often leading to gridlock. The Commission until this month had only three members, with Phillips, also a Democrat, and Republican Commissioner Mark Christie.
“These projects will have enormous emissions of greenhouse gasses, equivalent to putting more than 1.8 million new gas fueled cars on the road each year,” Clements said. “This order does not meaningfully assess those emissions.”
Clements also critiqued FERC’s environmental review of the project. She said CP2’s environmental impact statement should have been updated with independent review, but instead largely relied on emissions modeling submitted by the company.
Commissioner David Rosner, one of three new members confirmed by Congress earlier in the month, abstained from voting on all items.
FERC has approved other projects related to natural gas exports this year, including Oneok Inc.’s 2.8 Bcf/d Saguaro Connector natural gas pipeline. However, CP2 is the first proposed terminal project to receive authorization after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in January paused considerations for new worldwide LNG export permits.
CP2 is impacted by DOE’s pause, as its application to export to non-free trade agreement countries is still pending. It is one of at least seven U.S. LNG projects with volumes under contract that have been stalled since that pause began.
The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration also has approved Venture’s request to upsize the peak capacity of its Plaquemines LNG project in Louisiana by 0.6 Bcf.
Meanwhile, Venture disclosed that the first of nine LNG vessels under construction was launched this week from the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea.
In related news, the Commission is considering a request by Glenfarne Energy Transition LLC to extend the in-service deadline by five years to 2029 for the 4 mmty Texas LNG project in South Texas.
