Federal regulators on Thursday approved one of the nation’s largest natural gas export projects, despite a White House effort to temporarily halt the growth of overseas gas shipments amid worries about their climate impact.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the permit for the proposed Calcasieu Pass 2 liquefied natural gas terminal, a hotly debated project along the coast of Louisiana.
The green light for Virginia-based Venture Global comes months after the Department of Energy announced it would stop issuing new export licenses while it studies how U.S. shipments of natural gas affect American consumers and contribute to climate pollution. Under the FERC permit approved Thursday, the company can build the export facility but will have to wait for the Energy Department to issue a separate permit to ship the gas overseas.
Methane, the major component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to rising global temperatures when it’s emitted into the atmosphere. It is also a major source of fuel for electricity generators and home heating in the United States, in parts of Europe and across Asia.
