A US court has ordered federal regulators to reassess the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from Commonwealth LNG’s Louisiana liquefied natural gas project, potentially slowing full approvals for the venture.
The court says in its decision that: ‘We think it ‘reasonably likely’ that on remand, the Commission can redress the defects in its (greenhouse gas) emissions and cumulative-effects analysis and still authorize the Project.’
Five environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defence Council sued FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) over the approval, saying it did not take climate and air pollution risks seriously when it approved the project in November 2022.
Commonwealth has not made a final investment decision (FID) yet. If developed, the project is expected to begin shipping 9.5 million tonnes a year of LNG from Cameron, Louisiana, in 2028.
Lyle Hanna, a Commonwealth spokesperson, says that the company will work with FERC during the reassessment and that it expects a FID in the first half of 2025.
