Houston Chronicle by James Osborne Feb. 22, 2019
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cleared the construction of the Calcasieu Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana Thursday, ending a two-month impasse that had threatened to delay billions of dollars worth of LNG projects along the Gulf Coast.
In announcing the project's approval Thursday night, FERC said commissioners had "applied a new approach for consideration of direct greenhouse gas emissions from LNG facilities."
In an interview Friday, Chairman Neil Chatterjee said while each project was decided on its own merits, he hoped the criteria applied to the $4.5 billion Calcasieu Pass project could be used again in the future, potentially avoiding delays in FERC's decision making.
"I'm optimistic what the commission considers legally durable today will withstand legal scrutiny in the future," he said.
FERC has become increasingly divided over how to consider the effects of LNG terminals and other energy infrastructure on climate change.
Commissioners stayed quiet on their internal debates around Calcasieu Pass, which was supposed to be voted on in December, but it was widely speculated the facility's emissions were at issue. FERC is currently split between two Democrats and two Republicans after the death of commissioner Kevin McIntyre, a Republican, earlier this year.
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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/FERC-clears-delayed-Calcasieu-Pass-LNG-project-13635512.php
