DOE OKs Commonwealth LNG exports, the first authorization since Biden admin pause
The Trump administration issued conditional authorization to export US LNG from Commonwealth LNG’s planned 9.5 million tonnes/year (tpy) plant in Cameron Parish, La. This is the first export authorization delivered by the US Department of Energy (DOE) since the Biden administration paused such permits, the White House said Feb. 14, 2025.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) separately issued a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, restarting the approval process that stalled when a US Appeals Court required FERC to reevaluate project approval to include its potential climate impacts (OGJ Online, July 24, 2024).
New LNG projects require both DOE export authorization and a FERC certificate to allow construction.
“With these decisions in hand, subject to a FERC Final Order, which we expect in July 2025, and DOE final authorization, Commonwealth anticipates reaching a final investment decision in September 2025, with first LNG production expected in Q1 2029,” Commonwealth chief executive Farhad Ahrabi said Feb. 14.
President Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, ordered the LNG export approval pause lifted (OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2025).
Biden in early 2024 ordered a pause on new export licenses pending a DOE review of the climate and economic impacts of surging LNG exports (OGJ Online, Jan. 26, 2024).
DOE’s authorization allows Commonwealth, which has been waiting the longest for DOE approval, to export to markets in Asia and Europe.
The order finds that “LNG exports from Commonwealth LNG are likely to yield economic benefits to the United States, diversify global LNG supplies, and improve energy security for US allies and trading partners over the course of the export term through 2050,” the agency said in a statement.
The findings dispute the Biden administration’s analysis that found more US LNG exports would likely raise consumer prices and increase greenhouse gas emissions (OGJ Online, Dec. 20, 2024).
The US’s total LNG operating capacity should grow to 24.4 bcfd in 2028 from 11.4 bcfd in 2023 if projects currently under construction begin operations as planned, the Energy Information Agency said in January 2025.
Trump also signed an executive order Feb. 14 to create a new energy council to find ways to expand US oil and gas production and streamline permitting of oil and gas pipelines. He appointed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to lead the council.
Cathy Landry | Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.
