NextDecade Sees Risk for All Federally Permitted Infrastructure in Rio Grande Case — Three Things to Know About the LNG Market

By Jamison Cocklin

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Published in: Daily Gas Price Index Filed under:

NO. 1: NextDecade Corp. CEO Matt Schatzman said this week that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s decision vacating FERC authorization for its Rio Grande LNG project sets a dangerous precedent. The company, he said, is prepared to take “any and all available legal and regulatory actions” to ensure the project isn’t delayed.

Image of Rio Grande LNG complex

“The decision reached by the DC Circuit Court has far-reaching implications,” Schatzman said in the company’s second quarter earnings release. “If the ruling stands, the precedent that would be set by the court’s action has the potential to impact viability of all federally permitted infrastructure projects because it will be difficult for these projects to attract capital investments until they receive final unappealable permits.”

The court sent the Rio Grande and Texas liquefied natural gas projects’ authorizations back to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for further consideration of the projects’ environmental impacts, which could create lengthy delays for the projects.

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Jamison Cocklin

Jamison Cocklin joined the staff of NGI in November 2013 to cover the Appalachian Basin. He was appointed Senior Editor, LNG in October 2019, and then to Managing Editor, LNG in February 2024. Prior to joining NGI, he worked as a business and energy reporter at the Youngstown Vindicator, covering the regional economy and the Utica Shale play. He also served as a city reporter at the Bangor Daily News and did freelance work for the Associated Press. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from the University of Maine.