Gas
US regulator proposes faster approvals for LNG terminal expansions
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has proposed measures to accelerate expansions at liquefied natural gas export terminals.
Key points
- FERC proposes 60 to 90-day deadlines for notices and objections on expansion applications.
- The plan eliminates requirements for certain air pollution dispersion models during reviews.
- Commissioner Judy Chang and environmental groups have raised concerns over the changes.
What happened
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has introduced a new program aimed at expediting the approval process for expansions at US liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, The Hill reported. According to the proposals, deadlines for notices and objections regarding these expansion applications would be limited to 60 or 90 days.
FERC Chair Laura Swett stated that the adjustments would enable faster capacity growth to supply international allies. She added that the framework aims to maintain environmental and safety standards while removing requirements for specific air pollution data submission during environmental reviews.
Why it matters
The proposed rule changes seek to remove air pollutant dispersion models, which Swett described as a source of delays and litigation risks. However, the approach has generated internal and external disagreement.
FERC Commissioner Judy Chang contested the decision, asserting that modeling remains essential for evaluating local and regional air quality impacts. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, also criticized the initiative. According to UA.News reporting, Claire Dorner of the Sierra Club warned that relaxing these regulatory requirements could hinder impact assessments for local communities and ecosystems.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
21.9% of electricity in the world came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
