Panel's approval of liquefied natural gas export terminal puts more pressure on Biden to block it

abcnews.go.com:

What would be the nation’s largest export terminal for liquefied natural gas has won approval from a federal commission

NEW ORLEANS — What would be the nation's largest export terminal for liquefied natural gas won approval from a federal commission Thursday, although when the Louisiana project will be completed remains unclear in light of a Biden administration delay announced this year on such projects.

Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass 2 southwestern Louisiana project, often referred to as CP2, was approved with little discussion by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during a livestreamed meeting. However, the project, which would be Venture Global's second such facility in the area, still needs Department of Energy approval, and its immediate prospects are uncertain, given the administration's January pause.

That pause aligned President Joe Biden with environmentalists who fear the huge increase in exports, in the form of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is locking in potentially catastrophic planet-warming emissions.

Louisiana's two Republican U.S. senators, officials from other energy producing states and industry officials have derided the pause as shortsighted and a boon to U.S. adversaries that produce energy, including Iran and Russia. But, some residents and environmentalists in the state — dependent on oil and gas dollars but also vulnerable to the effects of climate change — are wary of more LNG development.

Venture Global issued a statement praising the FERC approval. “This project will be critical to global energy security and supporting the energy transition, as well as provide jobs and economic growth across Louisiana and the United States," said Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global LNG.

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