DOE Authorizes Louisiana and Florida LNG Export Facilities

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued authorizations to Cameron LNG LLC and Carib Energy LLC to export domestically produced LNG to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the U.S. The Cameron LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, La. is authorized to export up to 1.7 Bcfd for 20 years. Carib is authorized to export up to 0.04 Bcfd for 20 years from its proposed facility in Martin County, Fla.

Following a recent procedural change, DOE evaluated the Carib and Cameron applications after the completion of environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Federal law generally requires approval of natural gas exports to countries that have a free trade agreement with the U.S. For countries that do not, the Natural Gas Act directs DOE to grant export authorizations unless it is found that the proposed exports “will not be consistent with the public interest.”

DOE conducted an extensive review of the Cameron and Carib applications. Among other factors, the department considered the economic, energy security, and environmental impacts and determined that exports at the specified rates were not inconsistent with the public interest.

The Energy Department comments that it will continue to act on applications to export LNG from the lower 48 states after completion of the review required by the National Environmental Policy Act, and when DOE has sufficient information upon which to base a public interest determination. The department will continue to monitor market developments and assess their impact in subsequent public interest determinations.