Texas LNG gets renewed FERC approval following remand

April 25, 2023
Glenfarne received an order on remand from the US FERC approving its planned 4-million tpy Texas LNG plant in Brownsville, Tex., following completion of an additional social cost of carbon and environmental justice analysis related to the project.

Glenfarne Energy Transition LLC received an order on remand from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approving its planned 4-million tonne/year (tpy) Texas LNG plant in Brownsville, Tex., following completion of an additional social cost of carbon and environmental justice analysis related to the project. The order includes two modified mitigation requirements regarding air monitoring and emergency response communications that Texas LNG will incorporate into its execution plan.

Texas LNG expects to take final investment decision by end-2023 and begin commercial operations in 2027. Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd. owns a minority equity interest in the plant and is leading its delivery along with Technip Energies USA.

Glenfarne says the project’s “Green by Design” approach is meant to avoid emissions rather than minimize or mitigate them. By using renewable energy to drive Texas LNG’s electric motors, the project’s CO2 emissions will be less than half of a typical LNG plant, according to the company.

Texas LNG and Enbridge Inc. last year agreed to expand the Valley Crossing pipeline to deliver 720 MMcfd of natural gas to Texas LNG for a term of at least 20 years (OGJ Online, Jan. 19, 2022).

Glenfarne is also the sole owner and developer of the 8.8-million tpy Magnolia LNG plant in Lake Charles, La., with an Apr. 15, 2026, FERC deadline to put it in service. The same deadline applies to the 1.4-bcfd Lake Charles Expansion of the Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline, which will supply the plant (OGJ Online, Aug. 1, 2022).

FERC also issued a letter of remand for NextDecade Corp.’s 27-million tpy Brownsville LNG plant, likewise sited in Brownsville, Tex.